NBA increases insurance policy coverage for players to $2.5 million as league restarts amid pandemic
The NBA and NBPA agreed to raise insurance policy coverage for players while the league attempts to restart its season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The league agreed to raise the policy from $312,000 to $2.5 million, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
ESPN Sources: After months of talks, @TheNBPA has reached agreement with NBA to raise insurance policy coverage for players to a $2.5M benefit for career-ending injuries. Policy covers on-and-off court injuries, including complications from Covid-19. Previous payout was $312K.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 30, 2020
The policy will cover both “on-and-off court injuries, including complications from COVID-19,” according to Wojnarowski. The news was announced just hours before the NBA resumes its season Thursday.
NBA will continue to withhold 25 percent of player salaries
The league will also continue withholding 25 percent of player salaries, according to Wojnarowski. The NBA started doing that in May, two months after the league suspended play following Rudy Gobert’s positive coronavirus test.
The NBA and NBPA agreed to keep that percentage at 25 percent moving forward. The league had the power to adjust that figure depending on how many games were played in 2020.
NBA has received promising coronavirus numbers since bubble started
While the league’s insurance policy will cover coronavirus-related issues, the NBA hasn’t experienced any positive tests in the latest round of testing.
NBA and NBPA Announce COVID-19 Test Results pic.twitter.com/7qPHfL8fK2
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) July 29, 2020
Of the 344 players tested, zero returned positive tests.
The NBA has implemented strict policies regarding quarantining and social distancing within the league’s bubble at Disney. Players who violate bubble protocol have been forced to isolate for 10 days. Others who have left for family emergencies have continued to receive daily tests, and are required to quarantine for a shorter period once they return.
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