Thunder fans hoping that the team will be able to complete its 2019-20 season got some good news on Monday when the team announced that it would be re-opening its training facility for voluntary individual workouts.
The organization has followed the lead of many of the league’s other teams, who have been re-opening their training facilities slowly over the course of the past week.
While the news doesn’t necessarily signal that the NBA will certainly be able to complete the season, getting all teams back into their training facilities and proving that they can keep players safe while participating in basketball activities has long been considered the first necessary step before the league can seriously consider a return.
According to ESPN’s Royce Young, the statement released by the team announcing the re-opening, the team will implement “the specific requirements and best practices the NBA and health authorities have established.”
It also suggests that the team will be permitted to test players without negatively impacting the needs of the local community.
The Thunder opened up their practice facility today for voluntary individual workouts. They will have players in the gym today. A statement from a team spokesperson on the plan and process for re-opening: pic.twitter.com/oabw4KvTIz
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) May 18, 2020
Chris Paul, who is currently serving as the President of the NBA Players Association, has emerged as one of the faces of the NBA during this crisis. On Friday, he appeared on ESPN’s The Jump with host Rachel Nichols and stated that he is confident that a majority of players want to return to the court.
Now, fortunately for Paul, he can take his talents back to the floor at The Thunder Ion. Although team-sanctioned events still seem to be a ways away, this is a step in the right direction.