The National Basketball Players Association has relayed the terms of a “doomsday provision” that could free owners from paying players a percentage of their salaries should the season get canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.
That is according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, who reports said provision, called the “force majeure event clause” and included in the collective bargaining agreement, covers a number of dramatic scenarios such as epidemics, natural disasters, and war.
The report says that, so far, there has been no discussion between the league and the NBPA over triggering the clause as there is hope that the season could be resumed.
“According to Article XXXIX, Section 5 in the CBA, players lose 1/92.6 of their salary for every game missed as a result of a force majeure event — this refers to events or conditions that make it impossible for the NBA to perform its obligation under the CBA,” Wojnarowski writes.
The next scheduled paycheck for NBA players, which comes on Sunday, is in no danger under the clause and will be fulfilled.
