“It Will Be a Mess” NBA General Managers and Training Staff Worried About Players If Season Resumes

The NBA is on the edge with the decision of returning to the full working mode. However, teams may not be ready even if they are eager to play.

NBA players are all out of shape right now

According to ESPN, concerns have risen among the league’s general managers and athletic training staff. They are worried that the games might resume before players are ready. By ready, they mean to their fit and basketball ready state.

One NBA general manager spoke about how a small time frame that the franchises will have to train will affect their players.

“If you tell us two weeks in advance,” he said, “and all we have is a two-week training camp to [get] guys back to work that have been out of work eight weeks, that’s a mess.”

The teams are definitely trying to provide remote workouts to the players. They are encouraging them to work out at their respective homes. They are providing daily exercise programs, Zoom workout sessions as well as equipment.

Some players have fully equipped gyms and courts at their houses. On the other hand, others barely have a ring put up in their backyards.

An athletic training staff official involved with several NBA players confirmed the same.

 “You’ll have players from one extreme to the other. So you’ve sort of just got to go with the mindset, ‘No one’s been training how they should be [and] everyone’s very out of shape,'” he said.

Milwaukee Bucks All-Star Khris Middleton described how he had no scope to really stay in shape and practice. He said that since the practice facility is closed,he has to shoot hoops outside at his neighbour’s house. Middleton said, “It’s really no basketball for me.”

On an average, an NBA player like LeBron James will practice for around 8-9 hours divided into three times in the day. Even though we don’t know if LeBron is doing that now, we do know he is enjoying his wines.

Many star players in the NBA are veterans. Veterans indulge in their pleasures at this time, and it reflects on their game, body, and stamina.

The result of this might include loss of basketball IQ, loss of stamina, and weakening of team spirit. The last result may occur due to lack of practice with the team.

GMs require a certain time period to get their players back into their best physique

Unfortunately, a long layoff means that each and every player will not be in game shape. They will all be unequally fit or unfit and may not perform their best together.

“I need these guys pushing their bodies for at least 30 days prior to the first meaningful basketball game,” one GM said.

“I don’t know how we could have that luxury,” another East GM added, “That would be great, but I would say if I had to push it, I would say 10 days to two weeks.”

Injuries have already forced many stars to stay off the court earlier this season. Western Conference GM said, “people forget how much these guys are actually getting treated every day. Preventively treated, not to heal but to prevent injury. So that’s been missing.”

NBA spokesman Tim Frank declared, “All return-to-play scenarios contemplate the importance of an appropriate training period in order to ensure the health and wellness of our players.”

It is a confusing situation where the games need to resume and teams are eager to play. Unfortunately, they cannot because of no practice. On a brighter note, GMs believe that they could make a little imperfect postseason work too.

“It may be something where people are so appreciative to be back out there that they’re just loving playing basketball,” the GM said.

“And that’s a driving force and that carries them through the periods of difficulty or maybe being out of shape or dealing with the different circumstances or different environments.”