Many NBA players have had problems accessing indoor basketball facilities during the league’s COVID-19 hiatus, and that even includes a former MVP with a practice court named after him at his alma mater.
In a Facebook Q&A, Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers explained how liability fears have limited gym access for the league’s players.
“I have a ball, and I have a hoop, and that’s more than most players right now,” Rivers told Houston’s play-by-play broadcaster Craig Ackerman in the interview. “So I can’t complain.” Rivers continues:
I’ve talked to a lot of my other teammates, and then players outside of my team. A lot of guys haven’t touched a ball since the season ended. They try to go to parks, but those are closed, or they’ve taken the rims or baskets away. It’s very difficult right now. I’ve been so close like three or four different times of getting a gym, and then something would fall through because of liability reasons and people not wanting to take any risks.
I couldn’t even get into my own high school, which I’ve donated to. Russell can’t even get into the UCLA practice facility, and it’s called the Russell Westbrook practice facility. So I knew that if he can’t get into a gym, then I can’t complain too much.
Following a significant financial contribution from the Los Angeles native, UCLA named its new facility after Westbrook in December 2015.
The 27-year-old Rivers, who is spending the hiatus at his family home in Orlando, said he is able to shoot at home on an outdoor basketball hoop. But the tropical weather in Florida means it isn’t always an option.
In his second season with the Rockets, Rivers has averaged 8.5 points (35.8% on 3-pointers) in 23.4 minutes per game in the 2019-20 season. Besides backing up Westbrook and James Harden in Houston’s backcourt, he’s also one of the team’s most reliable on-ball defenders.
Even without a gym, Rivers is still able to do physical workouts sent to him and other Rockets players by director of athletic performance Javair Gillett. He said in Thursday’s interview that workouts have recently ramped up, with players remaining hopeful that the season can resume.
