Rockets owner optimistic NBA will resume season

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Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta expressed optimism that the NBA will resume its 2019-20 season during a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday.

"I think what they're doing is waiting to see what happens in certain states and if we're going to be able to play," Fertitta said to Trump, as transcribed by The New York Times' Sopan Deb. "Making sure the virus continues to go in the right direction in the next few weeks. And I think that if things are going in the way that it's going, I think the NBA, the commissioner Adam Silver, who has done an unbelievable job through this, and the 30 owners will make the decision to try to start the season up again."

Fertitta also hinted at a potential plan the league could adopt upon resuming.

"I think that we would play some games just to get it going again and create interest and then go right into the playoffs," the 62-year-old said. "We're all missing sports and everybody wants to see these great NBA teams."

The NBA suspended play indefinitely on March 11 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, the idea of resuming in quarantined locations based in Las Vegas or Orlando has been discussed.

In anticipation of a decision regarding the fate of the season in the coming weeks, some teams have reopened their training facilities while adhering to their states' social distancing guidelines.