Report: Knicks season might resume in Walt Disney World

The NBA is considering a plan to resume the 2019-20 season in Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

The New York Knicks might have played their final game at Madison Square Garden this season, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they won’t find their way back onto the court again. According to a recent report by The Athletic, the NBA is in serious discussions to resume the 2019-20 season in Orlando’s Walt Disney World Resort.

While the details still need to be worked out, and return-to-play proposals are always fluid, it appears players could begin training in mid-June with a potential mid-July start date to the post-coronavirus schedule.

Teams are expecting the league office will issue guidance around June 1 to allow clubs to call back players to their home markets as a first step to resuming the season, according to ESPN.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced last week that professional sports, including the NBA, may resume in the state without fans in attendance. The Disney site is seen as a suitable location for the league to operate, with a “bubble” like atmosphere that includes plenty of courts and hotel space. Las Vegas is another neutral site being considered.

The Knicks were 21-45 when the season was shuttered due to the pandemic. They currently hold the sixth highest lottery odds for the top pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. The draft lottery was originally scheduled to be held this week, but has been postponed indefinitely.

Former Knicks coach David Fizdale, who started the season 4-18 before being fired, recently suggested the NBA should limit the resumption of the current season to the top 18 teams. Obviously, this would leave the Knicks at home.

"“Personally, I think it’s probably safer and better for the product all around, just to eliminate (teams that are out of the postseason picture) right now,” Fizdale said in an interview with NBC San Diego (h/t Sports Illustrated). “Let those teams prepare for the draft and the days they can use to improve their franchises.”"

Orlando is not an unfamiliar location for the Knicks, as they have been one of the teams who have participated in the Orlando Summer League in the past.

Meanwhile, Madison Square Garden could be left in the dark. The company recently posted grim financial results for the third quarter ended March 30, 2020, which included three weeks of time with events canceled due to the pandemic.

This is a breaking story. Please check back as more details become available.