Coronavirus Puts a Big Dent on Preparations of LA Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks Among Other NBA Teams

The NBA is tentatively set to restart on July 30 with the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans kick-starting the league’s return. There are several safety measures being taken, mainly due to the severe spread of COVID-19. As teams reopened their facilities a few weeks back, it hasn’t been smooth sailing for a few. 

In recent days, a number of teams from the Eastern and Western conferences, have shut down their practice facilities. This comes as a result of a few players or staff testing positive for the virus, while attending the workouts in the team’s respective training facilities. 

NBA teams in the East who have shut down their training facilities

Milwaukee Bucks

The Bucks are one among the NBA teams to shut down their practice facility after a batch of results were received following the testing process on Friday. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski broke out the news which revealed that the Bucks will keep the facility closed until the team travels to Orlando. 

The team led by Giannis Antetokounmpo stood first in the Eastern Conference, holding the best record in the league, prior to the suspension. Being a well-balanced team, the Bucks are one of the favorites to clinch the title this season. 

Miami Heat

2020 Slam Dunk champion Derrick Jones Jr. tested positive when the Heat conducted mandatory testings late in June. Furthermore, according to Ethan Scolnick, another Heat player has contracted the virus. This led the Heat to cancel all workouts ever since the anonymous player was confirmed to have the COVID-19.

The Heat will not re-open their facility until they complete their self-quarantine routine, before heading to Orlando. The team would look to get back to full-fitness before beginning their scrimmage schedule against the Sacramento Kings on July 22nd. 

Brooklyn Nets

The Nets found out last week that two of their players Spender Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan had tested positive for the virus. As a result, the team closed their facilities for several days and only re-opened on June 30. Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN presented us with an update about the Nets resuming training.

The Nets look in serious despair as DeAndre Jordan has confirmed that he will be unavailable for the Orlando bubble. This just adds to the list of woes the Nets already face. They’re already without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Now, with Jordan exiting the team, the Nets are up against a massive challenge when they restart their campaign. The Brooklyn Nets face the Orlando Magic on August 1. 

NBA teams from the West who have faced the threat of the coronavirus

LA Clippers

The LA Clippers closed their training facilities on Thursday after a member of the traveling party tested positive. Even if the players come clean, a staff member testing positive puts the whole squad in jeopardy. Thus, as reported by Adrian Wojnarowski, the Clippers shut down their training facilities as soon as they were informed about the news.

Though the coronavirus is playing spoilsport in the league’s resumption, the Clippers should not be deterred by the fact that they will have to follow a few protocols before they can travel to Orlando. Standing as one of the favorites, the Clippers would look to upset their city rivals if they manage to enter the conference finals. 

Denver Nuggets

It was reported that Nuggets star Nikola Jokic contracted the virus while quarantining in his hometown. Furthermore, the team’s head coach Michael Malone also tested positive in March and recovered from the virus.

But, the Nuggets recently found out that a couple more members tested positive. Here is more information on the same, as per Adrian Wojnarowski. The Nuggets had two members of the team’s 35-person Orlando traveling party — which encompasses players, coaches and staff — initially test positive before the weekend shutdown, sources said. There has been at least one more positive test since Saturday, sources said. 

Sacramento Kings

The Kings are the most recent team to have one of their members testing positive for the coronavirus. According to Sam Amick of The Athletic, a member of the team’s traveling party tested positive.

As per the guidelines provided by the NBA, any player who contracts the virus should self-quarantine and test negative twice before catching a flight to Orlando. A lot of players and staff have contracted the virus in these past few months. But, we hope there is no major hindrance as the league nears its return.