Around the NBA, it feels more like October than it does July. Teams are reconvening, players are working out and talking to the media and preparations are being made for when teams relocate to the Orlando campus to prepare for play to resume on July 30.
Before that happens, though — and even before teams attempt to relocate — the entire league has to undergo testing for COVID-19. On Thursday, the NBA and its players union each independently announced that of the 354 players who were tested for the virus, 25 players had tested positive.
Fortunately for Oklahoma City, none of them were a member of the Thunder.
A team spokesman confirmed the news, according to The Oklahoman’s Joe Mussatto.
No Thunder player has tested positive for COVID-19 during the NBA's testing period, per a team spokesman.
— Joe Mussatto (@joe_mussatto) July 2, 2020
Truth be told, players contracting the virus is going to be a recurring theme over the course of NBA training camps and even the postseason. At the end of the day, the team that ends up being crowned the 2020 NBA Champion might be one of the teams that is most fortunate with respect to its health.
The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers, for example, have both experienced infections that have impacted their planning for relocation to Orlando. And sadly, they might not be the only teams impacted in the most serious way.
According to Mussatto, all 17 Thunder players have reported back to Oklahoma City and, at least right now, are prepared to travel to Orlando on July 8 before beginning play on Aug. 1 against the Utah Jazz.