At least six NBA teams will reportedly troop back to training and practice facilities starting this Friday and up to next week, bolstering the possibility of the league resuming the games that were halted in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. Still, there is no definitive date on when the season restarts as restrictions remain in place in most parts of the U.S. where clubs are situated.
The Cleveland Cavaliers, the Denver Nuggets, and the Portland Trail Blazers will head back to work out routines on official team facilities as early as Friday this week, which is following the earlier indication from league officials that practice and training will be permitted on May 8.
USA Today reported that two more teams could go back to practice sessions on the same day but it remains to be seen if the clubs would follow through on the announced schedule. The Houston Rockets, for instance, have originally stated that players can start using the team's facilities on Friday but due to COVID-19 lockdown rules still observe in Texas, the resumption has been rescheduled on May 18.
It will be the same case for the Atlanta Hawks, which revealed the plan to open up facilities anytime next week.
In San Francisco, the same report said that the Warriors will not be practicing too soon. It will be a few more weeks before the Golden State players will be permitted to access the team's training facilities.
The Los Angeles Lakers have expressed intent to reopen their practice facilities but going ahead with the plan will greatly depend on the outbreak guidelines that will be issued by the California government and health officials.
According to Bleacher Report, the Lakers are optimistic that training for players will be green-lighted on the appointed date. Team officials, however, have made clear that fresh instructions from authorities could make them delay the reopening of the facilities.
In any case, the NBA is clear on the memo that was sent out in late April - that when the team training resumes, each facility will only allow up to four players working out at once and that group training will remain prohibited.
The same memo also reminded that coaching staff will not be allowed to participate in players' training. These restrictions are in line with the general lockdown rule that encourages social distancing.
The NBA allowing players to train on team facilities is seen as a step forward on the goal set by league officials to start holding the games as soon as the situation permits. Per the same report, the league remains positive that the season will be scrapped and games will be played.
If and when the season restarts, the suggestion of playing the games in "a centralized location" is an option that the NBA is strongly considering, and that location would be Orlando, Florida, according to Bleacher Report.
