Jared Dudley Responds to Shaq and Argues NBA Must Try to Restart Season

The NBA is currently on hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, and there is still a chance that the 2019-2020 season ends without a conclusion. If Los Angeles Lakers forward Jared Dudley is any indication, that is the last thing that players want to happen.

Sunday afternoon, NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O'Neal came out and stated that he believes the season should be terminated without an ending in order to protect the safety of the players. Later in the day, Dudley took to Twitter to respond.

Players don’t understand the ramifications if we don’t play this year.. It effects next season as well. No games, no tv money , billions lost in revenue.. There will be no vaccine coming next year also so IF we can be Safe which I have faith in the NBA we can l, we should play. https://t.co/TUec32UfEj
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) May 10, 2020

Dudley's message takes a pragmatic approach to the impact of potentially canceling the NBA season in 2020. Dudley notes revenue impact, and the idea that the NBA will not be safe for years without a vaccine.

By many accounts so far, Dudley may be correct. Vaccine production takes years, and there likely will not be one in time for the 2020-2021 NBA season. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top infectious disease expert on the Trump administration’s coronavirus task force, stated it would take 12-18 months to develop a vaccine.

Bill Gates said on Friday that a vaccine could come in as little as 9 months or take as long as 2 years. Fauci has said a year to 18 months.
— Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy) May 3, 2020

Dudley, a role player on the Los Angeles Lakers, has a lot to lose with the season on the line. The Lakers were first in the West before the season was paused, and were favorites to make an NBA Finals run. The title would've been the first in Dudley's 12-year career.

Fans can only hope that the NBA will return, giving Dudley what could be his last shot at a ring.