Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is hopeful that the NBA will not have to cancel the remainder of the season. The NBA became the first professional sports league in the United States to suspend their season after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.

Speaking with WFAA, Cuban said he is optimistic that the league will be able to resume playing games before June 1.

"No one has perfect information right now, so all decisions are tough, but if I had to guess based off the people I've talked to at the CDC and other places, I would say that the over-under [for a restart] would be June 1, and I'm taking the under," Cuban told the television station.

Cuban suggested that games may initially be played without fans.

"Hopefully, by the middle of May, we're starting to get back to normal, and the NBA is playing games, maybe not with fans [in attendance], but we're playing games," he said.

With fewer than 20 games left, teams could wrap up the regular season and begin the playoffs in mid-to-late June. For that happen, Cuban said that scientists will need to create a treatment that "minimizes the impact of the virus."

"So I think that that's the first step. And I think that's gonna happen a little bit faster than we originally expected."

Cuban believes that bringing sports back will help lift the spirits of people who are dealing with the global pandemic.

"People need something to rally around right now. People need sports," Cuban said on CNBC's Markets in Turmoil special. "We need something to cheer for, something to get excited about, and there's nothing better than our sports teams to do it."

To keep up to date on the latest news about the coronavirus and to understand what you need to stay safe and healthy, check out the Coronavirus: Fact vs. Fiction podcast from CNN Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

Lance McAlister

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