The Golden State Warriors pressed the shutdown button early this week that according to Bob Myers will lead to the team stopping all operations, including the closing of training and practice facilities. In light of reports that more players are getting infected, the NBA said all team will be ordered to a complete halt of all physical activities.
League officials released a memo that advises all teams to close all facilities where people can still congregate. Compliance is expected to start on Friday, which the NBA hopes will slow down if not stop the spread of COVID-10 to members of the NBA community.
According to NBC Sports: "The league issued a memo Thursday notifying all teams that they must shut down their training and practice facilities to players and staff by Friday."
In line of the latest advisory, Shams Charania of The Athletic said the shutting down is seen as a mitigating measure by league officials to stop the coronavirus on its tracks.
"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," NBC reported Charania as saying.
Also, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN dubbed the decision as "an inevitable move for a long hiatus."
"Teams had been encouraging of idea of shuttering facilities for immediate future. As much as franchises wanted players to have an outlet to come get work in, teams and league were uneasy about contact even in that limited environment," said the ESPN journalist.
The action by NBA was made as reports emerged that two more players tested positive for coronavirus but their names were withheld for now.
In a statement, the Lakers confirmed that the players were exposed during a game with the Brooklyn Nets. The latter has announced earlier this week that Kevin Durant and three more members of the team caught the virus. The Lakers were the last opponent faced by the Nets before heading home.
"We learned today that two Lakers players have tested positive. Both players are currently asymptomatic, in quarantine and under the care of the team's physician," CBS Sports reported the statement from the Lakers as saying.
"All players and members of the Lakers staff are being asked to continue to observe self-quarantine and shelter at home guidelines, closely monitor their health, consult with their personal physicians and maintain constant communication with the team," added the statement.
Despite the total shutdown and the seemingly sustained spread of COVID-19, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he remains hopeful that the games will resume soon and the season will see its completion. There were projections that the season stoppage will go beyond 30 days and that term will be cut short.
"I'm optimistic by nature, and I want to believe we're gonna be able to salvage at least some portion of the season," Silver said.
