The NBA returns to training, without certainty about the rest of the season

Caution, envy and doubts accompany the NBA players, who are preparing to resume individual training on Friday in the facilities of their franchise, where directives related to Covid-19, imposed by local authorities, allow it.

The North American Basketball League gave its franchises the green light almost two weeks ago to reopen the training centers, to the extent that they are authorized to do so. A first step on the tortuous path of a hypothetical resumption of the season suspended on March 11 after the positive test of the French pivot of Utah Rudy Gobert.

Only half of the franchises concerned at the moment

Hypothetical, because if it reflects on the different scenarios of a return to competition hoped for in July, the body does not rule out a cancellation, if the evolution of the pandemic and / or the health authorities impose it. Boss Adam Silver has promised to speak out on the fate of the season this month.

In the meantime, while the play-offs should have been in full swing in normal times, it is a recovery in small drops and in dispersed order that is emerging. Firstly, because it currently only concerns around fifteen eligible franchises, or half the NBA. Then because among these, only three - Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, Cleveland Cavaliers - plan to reopen their training center on Friday for players, who can choose to go or not.

"Have the confidence of the players"

On the side of Miami, Orlando or Utah, which nevertheless have an authorization to accommodate their staff, we decided to wait a few more days, as much for logistical questions as to give food for thought. As such, Adam Silver and the president of the players' union Michele Roberts have planned to meet Friday with players from Denver, Portland and Cleveland, to get their feedback.

“We want to make sure that our facilities meet all the criteria imposed by the league and the protocols of local and national health authorities. Then we will be even stricter with these standards by creating our own, "said Jazz Basketball Operations President Dennis Lindsey on Thursday.

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"The main objective is to have the confidence of the players and the staff to allow them to return to our training centers safely," summed up the manager who had to manage, in addition to that of Gobert, the positive test of Donovan Mitchell. With the added bonus of a quarrel between the two players, the second having criticized the first for his "reckless" attitude in the locker room.

Other teams, on the contrary, seem to be stamping their feet, such as the LeBron James Lakers, who are negotiating with the Los Angeles town hall to reintegrate their El Segundo facilities before May 15, the date on which a gradual deconfinement for certain activities will begin in California.

"A risk that is not worth it"

Even if caution is advised - a positive test that risks extinguishing all hope of a return to competition -, the desire to find the prosecution wins the players. "When you hear that things are opening up, you're very excited," said Milwaukee player Pat Connaughton, who is looking forward to the reopening of the Bucks' training center.

Among the protocols put in place by the NBA on the advice of various public health organizations, such as the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), no more than four players at a time will be allowed to train on their game of field, each shooting in front of a single panel, with a single ball which will be cleaned and disinfected after each session.

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Players will wear masks and gloves, except during training, and will take the temperature before entering the gymnasiums. The head coaches and their assistants will not be present during these sessions, unlike other staff members responsible for assisting the players and who will have to wear masks, gloves and keep themselves at least 3.5 m from distance.

These measures are not accompanied by a screening for coronavirus on asymptomatic players and staff, the NBA, believing that it would be inappropriate given the limited number of public tests available in the United States. Reason for which, Mark Cuban, owner of Dallas Mavericks however the first to push for a resumption of the season, still refuses for the time being to reopen its installations. "I don't think the risk is worth it," he said.

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