“I Just Can’t Tell You Who It Is”: Celtics Star Confirms Many Superstars Unwilling to Play in NBA Return

As the coronavirus continues to affect millions around the world, many sports leagues are prepared to make their comeback. With severe restrictions in place, the NBA announced its return date. The league is all set to resume on July 31, with Disney World in Orlando serving as the NBA’s bubble. 

To conclude the regular season, the league came up with a newly formulated plan. It includes 13 teams from the Western conference and nine teams from the East competing for the NBA title. Not every idea is going to sit well with the others. Players have started voicing their concerns against the proposed plan.

Brooklyn Nets’ Kyrie Irving has been a major force in opposing the league against its return. Other NBA stars also against the league’s restart. There has been so much effort taken with respect to the protests against racism and the players feel it would all be a waste if everyone starts focusing on basketball again.

Moreover, as reported by NBC Sports, a few star players are planning to not compete when the league resumes. Boston Celtics center Enes Kanter recently informed Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston about the news he received from one of his teammates.

Celtics’ Enes Kanter briefs on how NBA stars react to playing in Orlando

Contrary to many people’s beliefs, a lot of NBA stars don’t want to get back into action. They feel pushing it too much amid the severe COVID-19 crisis and the ongoing protests, will result in a major distraction. Enes Kanter himself took part in the protests, voicing his support against the alleged homicide of George Floyd. 

Here’s what Kanter said: “I have so many friends on different teams, right? I was actually talking to one of my friends, and he said – I’m not going to tell who or which team – but he said, ‘There’s so many guys on our team, that they’re not going to play.’ They’re actually in the Eastern Conference. They’re in a playoff spot.”

Moreover, Kanter made us even more curious by revealing that certain superstars from Eastern conference teams are a part of the boycott plan. “And they’re like superstars. If I told you who it is, you’d go crazy. I just can’t tell you who it is. But he said, ‘Hey, they’re not going to play.’ They said until they found a vaccine, until they find a cure, that they’re not going to play.”

This is indeed shocking news coming from the 28-year-old. If high-profile players decide to boycott the season when it resumes, more players are likely to follow. We can only find out more, as the days go by.