Auerbach Center is back in business for the Boston Celtics according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, who reports that all 30 NBA teams may begin using their training facilities again.
There will be health-related restrictions in light of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic’s rising case numbers around the country, with Charania reporting groups using the facilities for “group practices, workouts and scrimmages” cannot be bigger than 10 persons at any given time.
Players have been using unapproved gyms in many instances to stay in shape, so the move will help lower the overall risk of the league having an outbreak on a team as a result.
The NBA has informed its 30 teams that they are now allowed to open practice facilities for group practices, workouts and scrimmages with up to 10 players, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 30, 2020
The NBA will require strict protocols in place requiring daily coronavirus testing for any players planning on using the facilities according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
The move stands in contrast to the facilities policies ahead of the Disney restart, which limited use of team facilities to individual workouts.
This is likely due to a combination of increased testing availability and general growth in the body of knowledge of how to safely manage such activities in a pandemic over the course of that restart.
It will be a critical component to starting the 2020-21 season as well.
