There have been a lot of questions over the past couple of weeks regarding the future of the season. Some people consider that the league should cancel it or at least pause it for a couple of weeks while teams get their Covid-19 situation under control, but Adam Silver and the rest of the NBA seem reluctant to do so.
After a successful run in the bubble in Orlando, the word around the league is that no team or player was willing to put together that kind of effort for a full season, and that’s why the NBA and the NBPA agreed on terms on a health and safety protocol to prevent Covid-19 outbreaks around the league.
Sadly, that hasn’t been the case thus far, as we’ve even seen three games postponed due to contact tracing and the Philadelphia 76ers had to play with just 7 role players to avoid forfeiting a game, which is crazy no matter how you see it.
That’s why the NBA, NBPA, and the Board of Governors had an emergency meeting to discuss a ‘tightened protocol’, that, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, goes as follows:
Among protocol changes now agreed upon: NBA players can no longer interact with non-team guests at road hotels, sources tell ESPN. Players were allowed to have guests in rooms, but that is no longer the case.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2021
More changes to protocol, sources tell ESPN: At home, players and team staff must remain at residence except to attend team-related activities at facility orarena, exercise outside, perform essential activities or the occurrence of extraordinary circumstances.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2021
On road, players and staff can’t leave hotel — except for team activities or emergencies, sources tell ESPN. No more list of approved restaurants. https://t.co/fU7QnElnBq
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2021
For minimum of next two weeks, pre-game meetings in locker rooms are limited to 10 minutes — with masks on, sources tell ESPN. All other meetings with players and team staff must be on the court, or a larger space that allows for 6-feet of social distancing.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2021
Any person who regularly visits the inside the home of a team staff member or player for professional purposes must undergo Covid testing twice per week, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2021
Sources: League's mandating increased mask wearing for players in games, except for "cool down chairs" arranged at least 12 feet from bench and 6 feet apart. Players can go there immediately after leaving court during game, but must return to regular seat on bench wearing a mask.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) January 12, 2021
Hopefully, all these new tightened measures and protocols will work and the players, staff personnel, and everybody around the NBA community can stay healthy throughout the season. It may seem like an overreaction and quite strict at first glance, but it’ll be the only way to finish the season.
