The Los Angeles Lakers may soon allow their players to work out at the team’s practice facility for the first time since the NBA suspended operations last March.
According to a report from ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, the Lakers and city officials have been communicating about the possibility.
“The Lakers have been in contact with the Los Angeles mayor’s office to discuss the possibility of opening their practice facility for players before the current shelter-at-home order for L.A. residents expires on May 15, sources close to the matter told ESPN,” wrote McMenamin.
After Monday’s announcement from the NBA that players will be allowed to resume voluntary workouts by May 8, the reopening of the Lakers’ practice facility would be the next step for the team to renew its title hunt this season.
One of the immediate concerns raised by working out in public is the protection of the players and those around them.
But it appears that the Lakers may already have guardrails in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19 within their organization, especially after two of their players previously tested positive for the virus.
“The Lakers, sources said, organized a conference call on Monday with their players to detail what the safety measures will be when the time comes for their doors to open — be it May 15 or sooner,” McMenamin added.
“Lakers vice president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka and coach Frank Vogel conducted the call, providing a basic outline of the protocol players will have to follow once the team gets the green light to host workouts at the UCLA Health Training Center in El Segundo.
“The Lakers have not made recommendations to any of the handful of players who are out of town as to when they should return to L.A., sources said.”
If city officials give the Lakers the green light to work out at the practice facility, these safety measures will hopefully be enough to ensure the protection of all involved.
