Due to local regulations, the NBA has allowed half of its team to reopen its practice facilities amid the social distancing policies of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The league had prohibited franchises from continue practicing as they were enforcing a bit of mandatory quarantine for their players and staff. However, it seems like some players have found their ways to the gyms that were supposed to be closed to stay in shape in hopes of an eventual return to the courts, as reported by The Athletic:
“As of now, no player is allowed into his team’s facility or some other gym to work out. Development staffers are not supposed to be working with the players. If a player has a private gym at home, great. Many have said they do not. Others, according to multiple sources, are practicing secretly on their own at gyms that are supposed to be closed,” Sam Amick and Joe Vardon wrote.
We all know NBA players are extremely competitive and no one wants to be caught sleeping once the commissioner states its safe to return to the hardwood, so this report definitely doesn’t come as a surprise at all considering the kind of athletes we’re dealing with.
However, they should be taking all preventive measures to avoid getting sick and furthering delaying the process of the season’s comeback, as the NBA has already proven that they will have a zero-tolerance policy when it comes to COVID-19.
Thus far, it’s still unclear whether the season will be resumed (and when or where), but there’s reportedly some optimism regarding the situation. As a matter of fact, even LeBron James acknowledged that the players just won’t allow the league to cancel the season right away and we’ll have more basketball before the end of the year. For now, we’ll just have to stay patient, players included.
