NEWSLETTER
While it shouldn’t be considered unexpected, the NBA announced Thursday afternoon that all team training facilities will be shutdown starting Friday.
Teams were informed today in a memo about facilities closing –with players being encouraged to take aggressive measures to continue to avoid contact with others and remain home as much as possible. https://t.co/3OedPb4qFt
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 19, 2020
Originally, teams were allowing staff members and players to use the facilities under a strict set of guidelines, which included a one-basket-one-coach rule. Players were also only allowed to do weightlifting exercises one at a time. However, for the foreseeable future, any work inside the Advocate Center will have to wait, and it appears players will have to stay in shape under their own roof. The NBA said players are prohibited from using outside fitness centers or gyms, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Of course, these precautions continue to feel like the right and necessary approach, as yet another NBA figure has been tested positive for the virus, this time a member of the Denver Nuggets organization.
"The person, who was tested after experiencing symptoms consistent with COVID-19 on March 16, is currently under care of team medical staff and in self isolation." https://t.co/x9xAwWumnI
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 19, 2020
Meanwhile, the league continues to encourage its players to stay within their team’s respective. But, if need be, they are allowed to travel … just not outside the United States.
Players will not be allowed to travel outside of North America, league tells teams in a memo. https://t.co/6xLWddo2LC
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 19, 2020
We have no real idea how long these guidelines will be in place, but we have yet to hear any real encouraging words from the NBA on a possible timetable for return (and, by the way, I’m not expecting one or anything). Commissioner Adam Silver joined ESPN’s Rachel Nichols for an interview yesterday, and while Nichols made sure to ask the important questions, Silver didn’t have all the answers.
The narrative we’ve heard over the past week has remained the same: almost anything is on the table right now when it comes to dealing with this currently suspended season. Specifically, Silver shared three important things he’s keeping an eye on as the league considers a possible return: (1) When will fans be able to watch again? (2) Should the NBA resume without fans? (3) Could the league provide basketball to viewers in a different way?
The first two are obvious factors, but the third is where things get kind of interesting.
Here’s what Silver told Nichols:
“And one of the things we’ve been talking about are, are there conditions in which a group of players could compete — maybe it’s for a giant fundraiser or just the collective good of the people — where you take a subset of players and, is there a protocol where they can be tested and quarantined and isolated in some way, and they could compete against one another? “Because people are stuck at home, and I think they need a diversion. They need to be entertained.”
Hm, I’m listening.
Silver mentioned not only the urge from players to get back on the court (which has been kind of obvious based on the sheer boredom many of them have shown online), but also the general public’s “psyche” without sports. I honestly love this forethought from Silver, who’s yet again proving to be one of the best commissioners in sports.
I’m sure players want to get their mind off this crazy world by playing, and the general public wants to do the same by watching them play. If the league could somehow make this work in the meantime, especially for some kind of fundraiser, that would be pretty darn exciting.
Overall, Silver clearly wants basketball to continue in one way or another over the next couple of months, and he was clear that the thought of out-right canceling the season isn’t on the table … at least in his head: “I’m not there yet,” Silver told Nichols. “We’ll figure it out. I hope I’m not just in denial, but I’m just not there yet.”
For a look at more from Silver’s conversation with Nichols, check out ESPN’s article here.
