While the NBA readies to resume the season suspended by the coronavirus COVID-19, the league laid off approximately 100 employees this week. First reported by MorningConsult.com Thursday night, which obtained a copy of the letter in which NBA Chief Human Resources Officer Eric Hutcherson wrote the league was undergoing a reduction in force and restructuring of operations within select departments NBA spokesperson Mike Bass said in a statement, “We are restructuring certain functions at the league office to better align with changes in our business, particularly around digital media, and be well-positioned for future growth.”
Mike Bass Rumors
About a month from its restart in Orlando, the NBA laid off many of its behind-the-scenes employees on Wednesday, the Daily News has learned. NBA representative Mike Bass said the layoffs were part of an organizational restructuring to adapt to a changing business model. A source estimated the layoffs to be over 100 people, but did not know the exact number.
The NBA’s revenue has been hurt by the coronavirus shutdown, but it’s unclear what role, if any, it played in the layoffs. A source said the NBA’s events staff, ticketing staff and team business staff endured cutbacks. One former employee told the News that commissioner Adam Silver had alluded to cuts in a recent town hall meeting, but noted that it felt weird for this to coincide with the NBA rolling out its plans for a restart.
“It wasn’t a complete surprise yesterday, but the timing of it was like, wow, the ballsiness of the timing of this — you got two leagues restarting [the NBA and the WNBA],” the person said. “A good portion of these people laid off were vital people.”
Marc Stein: Massive week ahead for the league and the players’ union … with official health and safety protocols that will govern the resumption of the season in Orlando still being finalized and Adam Silver appearing Monday night in a TV summit with several other pro sports commissioners
