The Trail Blazers Were the Lone Team to Vote Against Restarting the NBA Season

The decision reflected feedback from players, according to reports.

CJ McCollum. (Bruce Ely / Trail Blazers)
By Matthew Singer

As expected, the NBA today approved a proposal to resume its season in late July, with all remaining games to be played at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

The vote on the plan among the league's 30 teams was 29-1.

The lone holdout? The Portland Trail Blazers.

Shams Charania of The Athletic first reported the team's no vote.

Under the ratified proposal, 22 teams—the top eight seeds from each conference, plus six others that were within six games of a playoff spot—will be sequestered in Orlando beginning July 7, with competition resuming July 31.

Eight "regular season" games will be held to finalize seeding before the playoffs begin. The Blazers are among the teams on the playoff bubble eligible to compete for a spot in the postseason.

Related: The Blazers Will Compete for a Playoff Spot Next Month When the NBA Season Resumes.

Representatives from the Blazers did not respond to requests from WW for comment, but according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, "the franchise believed there were more competitive and innovative formats on table."

Wojnarowski also reported the decision was made with feedback from players as well. Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that the team supported a restart plan that included only 20 teams.

"We play for an ownership group that actually listens to its players and has a backbone," guard CJ McCollum wrote on Twitter. "We voiced what we felt was the best option and they followed our lead. I commend our front office and Jody Allen."

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