Rockets push back opening training facilities to May 18.
Target date for players’ voluntary workouts shifted from Friday to meet state guidelines
The Rockets are targeting May 18 to open Toyota Center facilities to players for workouts and training, following guidelines from local government and health officials rather than reopening Friday as previously considered.
The NBA had sent guidelines to teams to reopen facilities to players beginning Friday in markets where permitted by local officials. Gov. Greg Abbott, however, has not included gyms and other training facilities in the initial phase of businesses permitted to reopen in Texas.
Teams in Portland, Denver and
Cleveland are expected to make their facilities available to players that remained in the local markets for individual, voluntary workouts under the NBA’s social distancing guidelines.
“Following the guidelines from health professionals and our political leaders, it looks like we’re going to be closed until the 18th,” Rockets CEO Tad Brown said. “They (Rockets players) are all over the country, and they’re doing their thing. We’re confident that we’re going to provide a very safe, structured environment for them, but it’s going to be at the time dictated by our political leaders and, most important, our health experts. We’re hoping to be open as soon as we can.”
The NBA decision to allow teams to open facilities to players was in response to changes in stay-at-home guidelines around the country rather than an indication the league is ramping up to salvage the 2019-20 season. It might indicate the NBA has not given up on the idea of returning despite the many hurdles to restarting a season, but no decisions are considered imminent.
“The league office, the commissioner, they’re going to take their time to make sure everything (is) lined up in the greatest interest of safety for everyone involved,” Brown said. “I wouldn’t take this as any type of sign. I would take this as a good step as
suring that we’re going to be able to provide a very safe, structured environment for our players to start working out in their home facilities. Other than that, there’s a ways to go before we can read anything into it.”
The NBA mandated there could be no more than four players in facilities at a time, with only one player and a development coach on a basket, separated by at least 12 feet and using only one basketball. No head coaches or front bench assistants will be permitted to be onsite. All those entering facilities must wear face masks and gloves other than during workouts. Players must undergo cardiac screenings before workouts, but there will not be testing for COVID-19 for asymptomatic players.
Many Rockets players returned to their hometowns during the hiatus. Russell
Westbrook, Tyson Chandler and Ben McLemore have been in California, James Harden in Arizona and Austin Rivers and Jeff Green in Florida. Robert Covington recently returned to Houston from Tennessee.
Eric Gordon, P.J. Tucker, Danuel House Jr. and Isaiah Hartenstein have remained in Houston.
Brown said the overwhelming sense is that players hope the season will resume.
“They want to play,” Brown said. “I think everybody’s aligned. Everybody I speak with, from players to coaches to the league office to Tilman (Fertitta, the Rockets’ owner) to the vast majority of my counterparts around the league are aligned that we want to be able to finish this season and get up and running for next year.
“Everybody is very cautious relative to health concerns and making sure that we do it safely and in the proper environment. But there is no question that everybody wants to be able to finish the season in some form or fashion.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver has said all ideas for finishing the season would be considered. That includes having the league sequestered in one site with only players and essential staff onsite and with no fans in attendance. Brown indicated the Rockets have not advocated for any particular plan.
“We’re like most everybody else in that we’re open to every consideration, every discussion,” Brown said. “Whatever is going to be best for the league and the players and owners, that’s what we’re going to focus on. Nothing has been determined. All of us, Tilman, me, Daryl (Morey, the Rockets’ general manager,) Mike (D’Antoni, the Rockets’ coach,) the league office, we’re all open to whatever recommendations will be made to finish our season.”