The NBA gave its approval for teams to reopen their practice facilities on a limited basis today, but only three teams have confirmed they will. And Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is in no hurry for his team to join the list.
USA Today reported yesterday that the Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets will allow a small number of players in the building at one time starting Friday.
Cuban said Wednesday on The Athletic’s “77 Minutes in Heaven” podcast that he isn’t willing to put his players and others at risk, citing the lack of available testing.
“The problem obviously is that because we can’t test people, then we can’t assure everybody’s safety, whether they’re basketball players or anybody else,” Cuban said. “Even though we can try to take all different kids of precautions, it’s just not worth it — particularly when our guys are staying in shape and they’re going outside and shooting on outdoor hoops and working out in various ways. So I just don’t think the risk is worth the reward.”
The NBA suspended play on March 11 after All-Star center Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus. League officials have hoped to restart the season, and an NBA memo to teams said no more than four players could use that facility at one time beginning Friday.
Some teams are following their state’s stay-at-home orders to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, while other teams are monitoring conditions in their area before making a decision.
The league and the National Basketball Players Association will hold a call for all players on Friday, ESPN reported Wednesday.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA executive director Michele Roberts will run the call on which players will be allowed to ask any questions they have about the state of the league amid the coronavirus pandemic, according to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
NBA, NBPA to hold call
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the head of the players union, Michele Roberts, will host a conference call today as the league attempts to map out a possible return to action, ESPN reported.
The call between Silver and NBA Players Association executive director Roberts is an opportunity for players to air concerns and quiz basketball chiefs about how the league may resume.
Today marks the first day that teams in the league will be allowed to reopen practice facilities for limited workouts, which will take place under strict safety protocols.
A handful of teams have indicated they plan to take advantage of the green light to return to practice facilities but many franchises have said they intend to wait.
Los Angeles Lakers head coach Frank Vogel said Wednesday he is in no rush to reopen the team’s El Segundo training base, believing that any resumption of the NBA was still a distant prospect.
“There’s a competitive balance element to this that I personally am not really all that concerned about,” Vogel said.
“I think we’re still a long way away from returning to play.”
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban. (TNS)
