PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — While it doesn't reflect a timeline for the potential return of NBA games, the league says it might allow certain practice facilities to open for individual workouts, with certain restrictions, starting May 8 at the earliest.
KYW Medical Editor Dr. Brian McDonough says he is skeptical.
"They are saying that the players will wear masks before they play. But when they play, because they have to breathe heavy when they're playing, they'll take them off. That's the point and time you'll really need a mask, because you're breathing heavy and the fluid can go back and forth from one player to another, and it can be pushed much further than what we're just talking," he said.
Players who come from out of market would need to quarantine before being permitted in the facility, all equipment — including basketballs — would need to be disinfected before use, towel sharing would not be allowed, and steam rooms, saunas, cold tubs, oxygen chambers and cryotherapy chambers would be off limits. Players must enter the facility by themselves and their often-touched personal items must be cleaned when entering.
Teams would need to assign someone to be a "facility hygiene officer" to monitor these rules, the AP also reported.
But even with these rules in place, McDonough said the players may be setting the wrong example for young fans.
"The role model problem is the biggest concern," he said. "When I look at it, I'm afraid that younger people are gonna see older players — their heroes — playing, and they're gonna think, 'Hey, it's time for me to play,' and I think then we run into problems."
Over the weekend, it was reported the NBA was targeting this Friday, May 1, but this latest announcement pushed the start date back by a week.
In Monday's announcement, the league didn't rule out the possibility of further pushing back re-openings.
The 76ers practice in Camden, so common sense suggests their facility wouldn't be one of the first to open. Teams who practice in states with stricter guidelines, ESPN reported, would have a process to get assistance finding other options.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
