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The NBA is allowing teams beginning May 1 to open practice facilities in cities and states where stay-at-home orders have been eased due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.
The regular season has been suspended since March 11 when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus. Practice facilities around the NBA have been closed in order to adhere to social distancing guidelines.
Players will now be permitted to practice at team facilities on a voluntary basis in areas that are safe to do so. Group workout settings are still prohibited at practice facilities.
Sources: Teams will be allowed to make facilities open to players on a voluntary basis for individual work, but larger group workouts will still be prohibited. In NBA markets that aren't loosening restrictions, league plans to work w/ teams on other arrangements for players. https://t.co/yZSKsXedW1
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 25, 2020
The NBA still has not finalized plans to officially resume play this season but opening practice facilities in areas with eased stay-at-home orders is likely the first step into getting the season back on track.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said earlier this month that a decision on resuming the season would not be made until at least May 1 but cautioned the league could still not be ready to finalize a plan at that time.
Georgia has been mentioned as a potential area in which players can begin practicing after Governor Brian Kemp announced this week that certain businesses, including nail salons and gyms, can reopen.
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