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After nearly two months without any form of basketball, some NBA teams began to trickle back into their facilities on Friday. With some states beginning to ease up on stay-at-home orders caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the league has started to allow players to participate in individual workouts at facilities.
While players have to work out while social distancing, and exhibit a lot of care, safety, and sanitation, they don’t all need to be tested for the coronavirus.
The Denver Nuggets are planning to re-open the team practice facility for voluntary individual player workouts on Monday -- not today, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 8, 2020
Among teams opening today, including Portland and Cleveland, the Covid-19 testing option isn't in place. Blazers and Cavaliers are among teams planning to participate in the Mayo Clinic Coronavirus Antibody Study that'll provide confidential test results to players, sources said. https://t.co/kez7xMWrlB
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) May 8, 2020
A handful of Cleveland Cavaliers players partook in voluntary workouts on Friday, including Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr.
Cavs players submitted to temperature and symptom checks and each wrote their number on two basketballs in thick Sharpie ink so no one else uses them
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 8, 2020
After roughly 90 minutes of weights and shooting, Nance said: "It was more for mental health than physical to be honest with you"
Each team seems to be handling things differently, based on the situation in their state, the availability of testing, and organizational philosophy.
Orlando is targeting Tuesday for opening its doors after receiving authorization from Dr. Raul Pino of the Orange County Department of Health that asymptotic COVID-19 testing is robust in Orange County (Fla.) ... thus allowing the Magic to administer tests to facility entrants
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) May 8, 2020
There’s no word yet on when the Golden State Warriors might re-open their facilities. The Bay Area has had some of the strictest (and therefore most effective) quarantine guidelines and laws, although this week California Governor Gavin Newsom entered the second stage of his four stage plan to re-open the state. It features some relaxed rules for companies to conduct business, so there’s a chance that the Warriors may be able to open the doors of their facilities sooner rather than later.
For now, we wait. But basketball is slowly making a return, at least in some form. That’s exciting.