Words leaked out that the NBA will start allowing teams to open training and practice facilities in May so players can return to their workout sessions. This will be for areas where the coronavirus lockdown rules have been relaxed, which will pose a problem for teams like the New York Knicks and Brooklyn Nets.
The two clubs are headquartered around the New York area, where the COVID-19 spread remains out control, and thousands have been infected or killed. There is no telling when the situation will return to normal where the Knicks and the Nets are located so the players heading back to training is out of the question for now.
But for many NBA teams, shuttered facilities will likely operate again as early as Friday this week. This was based on the unconfirmed directive from the league that "NBA players will be allowed to return to team training facilities ... provided that their local governments do not have a stay-at-home order prohibiting such movement."
According to WFLA, the plan will see players doing individual workouts only, meaning group sessions or team practices will remain prohibited. And the training will be seen as voluntary on the part of the players, meaning the reopening of the facilities is meant only to encourage practice.
Supposedly, the measure was decided because of the development in some states where select businesses have been allowed to resume operations such as the case in Georgia and Oklahoma. However, this return to normalcy will still be governed by specific limitations and in the same way, the NBA will impose similar restrictions.
As mentioned, there will be teams that will not be heading back to practice facilities anytime soon. Per the same report, league officials are looking for "alternative arrangements" that will open doors for affected players.
"The NBA would take the initiative in finding gym spots for Knicks and Nets players to work out in whatever city they are quarantining," said the report from the New York Post.
It is understood that at the moment, members of the Knicks and Nets rosters are spread out across the United States so league officials will coordinate with other clubs for possible training access for players.
This means that if a Knicks or a Nets player is located near Houston or Miami, he will be permitted to train using the facilities of the Rockets or the Heat.
The commitment by the NBA to arrange for alternatives will certainly help out the Knicks and the Nets. Brooklyn, for instance, will welcome an offer from other teams that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will be allowed to continue their training and rehab sessions.
The two superstars have been recovering from injuries and their getting back to shape should boost the chance of the Nets making the playoffs, that is if the NBA games will be resumed soon.
