During the first lockdown the government didn’t give the go-ahead for the British Basketball League to continue which is quite surprising given how successful the NBA playoffs were despite being in a bubble.
Dissapointment
The British Basketball issued this statement in regards to not playing basketball during lockdown:
Read full statement here: http://www.bbl.org.uk/british-basketball-united-with-joint-statement-to-government-on-covid-19-measures/
“We have already expressed our disappointment. Now the united bodies of the British Basketball Federation, Basketball England, the British Basketball League and the Women’s British Basketball League request urgent action to help us prepare to bring our sport back from lockdown.
“Basketball has played its part with Basketball England publishing a thorough and comprehensive set of safety measures in its Return To Play Guidance and Roadmap.
“Now we need Government to do for indoor sport what it has done for the retail and hospitality industries.
“Make a key step to getting basketball’s tens of thousands of players, coaches, officials and volunteers back to the game they love. Give the green light for indoor sports facilities to reopen safely.’’
Frustration
Basketball not emerging from the lockdown measures left Brixton basketball star Justin Robinson frustrated. Having seen other sports such as football, tennis and cricket return following lockdown, Justin Robinson feels the inferior treatment of basketball encapsulates the racial prejudice the sport has suffered for decades.
The British Basketball League season finally commenced on October 30th. Talks with the Government Department for Culture, Media and Sport over funding posted the beginning of the season by almost a month.
Justin Robinson had this to say in regards to not being able play basketball while other sports returned during lockdown:
“We all know the huge bias around basketball, it’s nothing new,’’ said the 33 year old, who made his debut for Great Britain in 2009. It’s been that way for decades, decades and decades.
“There is definitely a racial undertone in terms of basketball being a black dominated sported by minorities and kids from the inner-city.
“Maybe the government don’t see it as an important sport. If that is the case then it’s very unfortunate.
The fact that the NBA managed to successful complete the season and playoffs without any player testing positive begs the questions why didn’t the British Basketball League get given the go ahead. What makes matters worse is that fact the Premier League further showed that sports can take place during the pandemic with premier league players following a strict protocol.
Former GB captain Kieron Achara had this to say on why British basketball isn’t treated fairly: “The only logical explanation that I can give is that there is a subconscious bias against basketball and specifically the demographic that basketball represents.”
Feature Image from: BBL and Peter Simmons
