:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/66944158/hp_field_house_complex_slide_7.0.jpg)
Despite ongoing talks amid concerns from players about the NBA’s planned restart on July 31 in Orlando, the league is beginning to release more information, including schedules and information about where players will be housed, how they will travel, and more. Shams Charania of The Athletic has been releasing information as it comes.
First and foremost, the NBA is giving players the option not to play when the season returns if they are uncomfortable with the situation, provided they inform their teams by June 24 and are ready give compensation in the form of 1/92.6 of their pay per game missed.
NBA players have been notified that any player who chooses not to play in resumed 2019-20 season must notify his team by June 24, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Compensation would be reduced by 1/92.6 for each game missed.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
The NBA has also released travel plans for teams, including the number and types of personnel teams can bring along, where they will be staying, and hotel protocols. Teams will be housed based on seeding since they will be playing those teams in warm-up scrimmages, and for the Spurs, that means The Yacht Club along with the Trail Blazers, Kings, Pelicans, Suns and Wizards.
Sources: NBA teams have been informed of required positions for 35-person traveling party: athletic trainer; strength/conditioning coach; equipment manager; team security official.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
Each team can include a player’s private personal trainer, massage therapist, or security.
Sources: NBA players have been informed that anyone who leaves the Orlando campus (without prior approval) will be subject to:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
- 10-14 day self-quarantine
- Reduction in compensation for games missed
- Enhanced testing (deep nasal swab)
Sources: NBA teams Disney hotels based on seeding:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
-Grand Destino: Bucks, Lakers, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Nuggets, Jazz, Heat
-Grand Floridian: Thunder, 76ers, Rockets, Pacers, Mavericks, Nets, Grizzlies, Magic
-Yacht Club: Blazers, Kings, Pelicans, Spurs, Suns, Wizards
In NBA's ORL campus:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
- Hotel amenities: players-only lounge (NBA 2K, TVs, gaming), pool/trails, barbers, manicurists, pedicurists
- 24-hour VIP concierge
- Daily entertainment: Movie screenings, DJ sets, video games, ping pong, pool, lawn games
- Players can attend other games
Finally, the NBA has released visuals of court and workout arrangements, plus game day schedules.
Sources: NBA has sent teams a visual of court/workout arrangements in Orlando: pic.twitter.com/sT2rtFyKXK
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
NBA players‘ game day schedule in the Orlando bubble for 2019-20 season resumption, as @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium has obtained: pic.twitter.com/6nHik0R9aN
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
The return of the NBA season is less than 45 days away, which feels weird to say in June when typically the Finals are just coming to an end (if they haven’t already), but here we are. The Spurs may be without LaMarcus Aldridge and facing a likely end to their historic playoff streak, but at this point, any sports would be good for the soul. If nothing else, I’m ready to see Lonnie Walker IV play a little more, and December is way too far away to wait that long.