After no hoops on the calendar since March 11, the league is taking its first steps in getting players back in the gym. In states with modified shelter-in-place restrictions, NBA practice facilities will start to reopen for individual player work on May 8.
Teams and players will have to follow a set of guidelines if they plan to return to the practice court. Only four players are allowed in the facility at one time, no members of the coaching staff will be in attendance and group work is still prohibited.
Regardless of practice facility doors getting unlocked, The Golden State Warriors may already be looking to the offseason. According to Steve Kerr, it already feels like the end of the season for the Warriors.
In a conference call with Jennifer Azzi and Warriors President Rick Welts, Kerr spoke about the future of Golden State’s 2019-20 season.
It’s different for us because we were down to 17 games, but we were out of the playoffs. It feels like the end of the season for our team — it just does. We don’t know anything officially. There’s still a chance the league could ask us to come back and play some games, but given what we’ve been through this season with all the injuries and the tough record, it’s been more of the case of — we’re staying in touch with guys, but everybody is just sort of assuming that this is kind of it. We’re not going to be involved much anymore.
Although there are still 17 games remaining on the schedule, the Warriors are the only team in the NBA that’s already been eliminated from the playoff picture. Instead of preparing for another run at the Finals, Golden State’s 15-50 record has set them up to be on the clock early in the NBA draft.
With a flurry of injuries and a top lottery selection to prepare for, getting a headstart on the offseason could be a silver lining ending to the Warriors’ lost year.
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