Nothing but net
Magic begin voluntary individual workouts at Amway Center amid virus
The Orlando Magic took a small — but significant — step on Thursday when they reopened their practice facility for players to do voluntary workouts.
Magic center Nikola Vucevic was among the first batch of players to participate in the workouts. In videos and photos provided by the team, Vucevic is seen shooting free throws and working on jump hooks in the lane at the AdventHealth
Practice Facility at Amway Center.
In a short video after his workout, Vucevic talked about being back in the gym and urged everyone to remain cautious during the pandemic.
“It felt good to be back here and get some work in,” Vucevic said. “I still want you guys to stay safe, be smart and listen to the experts. It’s still a dangerous time for everybody.”
The workouts were scheduled for 90 minutes per player and were expected to run throughout the day, according to a team spokesman. The NBA requires teams are required to stagger the voluntary workout schedules.
At the time of their opening, the Magic were the 11th NBA team to start voluntary individual workouts, according to the Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Wednesday the NBA is hopeful
22 of its 30 teams’ facilities will be reopened for the workouts by Monday.
The workouts certainly signal an important step for the NBA, which suspended games on March 11 after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus. Still, the league is far from resuming its season, and no one quite knows how the NBA will navigate resuming play without a vaccine or COVID-19 treatment. The Magic are a perfect example of teams being forced to adjust plans.
The team had planned to reopen its facilities on Tuesday, then pushed the timetable back a day as it waited for COVID-19 test results for asymptomatic players and staff who would be present for workouts. The holding pattern remained in place Wednesday as the team continued to wait for the results.
The Magic opened Thursday with test results in hand, following more NBA safety guidelines. The league states only four players are allowed in a facility at one time and each must use his own basket. Once a player uses a ball, that ball becomes his for the duration of the voluntary individual workout period.
In addition, staff and developmental coaches on hand for a workout must wear gloves and a mask. Players also are required to wear a mask except when they are working out. They also do not have access to the locker rooms.
The NBA closed team facilities March 20 due to the pandemic.