In another sign the NBA understands it is going to be months — maybe more than a few months — before players take the court again, the league sent a memo to teams making two key points, according to multiple reports.
First, the league extended the ban on organized practices indefinitely. Players can work out individually at the team’s facilities (in limited numbers at a time), but there cannot be organized practices or events.
The NBA has extended its ban on team practices indefinitely, league sources tell ESPN. Players are still able to work out individually at team facilities.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) March 16, 2020
Second is that players can leave their team’s markets. Many players live in another city — maybe where they grew up, maybe in a major market like Los Angeles — than the one they play in. This is the league essentially telling players they can go home so long as they keep in touch and continue safe practices.
Sources: Players who travel out of team's market during NBA season hiatus must: Provide whereabouts; remain home, do social distancing. Team permitted to pay for certain travel.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 16, 2020
Teams also encouraged to establish daily health/basketball check-ins (such as via FaceTime, Skype). https://t.co/9uoboDoJ8L
On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued guidelines that said there should be no gatherings of more than 50 people for the next 60 days. That would take the NBA into mid-May to start up, at the earliest, and the season could run into late July or even August.
What that does to the rest of the NBA schedule — the draft in late June, Summer League in July, and the chance for players to participate in the Olympics in Tokyo starting July 24 — remains up in the air.
