In municipalities where coronavirus testing has become readily available to at-risk health care workers, NBA teams opening facilities for voluntary workouts will be allowed to administer tests to asymptomatic players and staff, sources told ESPN.
The Orlando Magic, one such team reopening its facility in the coming days and weeks, has been granted written authorization from the Orange County Department of Health and approval from the NBA to test its players for the coronavirus, a team spokesman said. The LA Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers are expected to be among other teams allowed to conduct coronavirus tests of every player and staff member entering facilities for individual workouts — regardless of whether they are experiencing symptoms, sources said.
The NBA recently informed teams of a “limited exception” to guidelines that forbid the testing of asymptomatic individuals in this preliminary phase of players returning to practice facilities. Essentially, the NBA will approve a written authorization from a local health authority that confirms a “robust testing program in place for at-risk health care workers” in the team’s community, sources said.
Among teams that opened up facilities on Friday, including Cleveland and Portland, those testing options weren’t in place, sources said. The Trail Blazers and Cavaliers are among the teams planning to participate in The Mayo Clinic Coronavirus Antibody Study — an NBA and National Basketball Players Association partnership — that will provide confidential test results to players within two days of the clinic receiving samples, sources said.
The NBA plans to regularly test players for COVID-19 upon a formal resumption of the season, but the league has been reluctant in these voluntary scenarios of one-hour workouts to have a perception that the NBA is needlessly using tests that might otherwise serve those at greater risk in a community.
Teams will follow numerous protocols upon players returning to facilities for these workouts, including the taking of temperatures, sources said.
For franchises and players concerned about protecting those reentering practice facilities, this could ease safety concerns and increase the participation in programs.
Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban told The Athletic Dallas Podcast this week, in part, that: “The problem obviously is that because we can’t test people, then we can’t assure anybody’s safety, whether they’re basketball players or anyone else.”
