NBA commissioner Adam Silver and National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts will host a call for all players on Friday, sources told ESPN.
That’s the same day the league has permitted teams to reopen practice facilities for voluntary, social-distanced workouts in areas where that has been permitted by local public health officials, in accordance with the detailed safety protocols that the NBA shared with teams from guidance from public health officials, the CDC and infectious disease specialists.
Three teams — the Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets and Cleveland Cavaliers — have told ESPN they plan to reopen Friday, while several other teams said they hope to open next week. The Houston Rockets had planned to open their facility Friday but reconsidered in collaboration with players and staff as well as Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s directive for gyms not to open until May 18.
Teams opening practice facilities for volunteer workouts will be able to designate six assistant coaches or player development personnel to provide supervision of player workouts on the courts, a source told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Head coaches will not be allowed to participate or observe the player workouts, sources said.
The call with Silver and Roberts is intended to be an open forum for players to address any concerns or ask any questions they have, sources said.
ESPN’s Tim MacMahon contributed to this report.