The New Orleans Pelicans will not hold group practices until at least Tuesday after NBA Commissioner Adam Silver laid out protocols for dealing with the coronavirus.
Adam Silver took to TNT to give a timetable for when or if the NBA will return after suspending play due to the outbreak of COVID-19:
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discusses the timetable for the league’s suspension. pic.twitter.com/tterVvR29r
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 13, 2020
The NBA will remain suspended for at least 30 days, though some in the league are pessimistic that the season will resume at all.
The New Orleans Pelicans were informed that group practices cannot resume until March 17 at the earliest and that players were to try to reduce their contact with the public, according to Mark Stein.
The NBA has notified its teams that all players are advised to stay in their home markets, remain home as much as possible and that teams are not allowed to hold group practices, meetings or workouts through at least March 16
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 12, 2020
The league memo instructed teams to exercise a “one player, one coach, one basket” rule, as a way to separate players who may be using practice facilities at the same time.
With the league on lockdown after a second player tested positive for the coronavirus, it is unclear when and how teams will approach team practices and meetings.
The New Orleans Pelicans were proactive and thought of safety first when pushing for their game against the Sacramento Kings to be cancelled after discovering one of the referees may have been exposed.
Though they were not one of the teams told to self-quarantine according to ESPN’s Brian Windhorst, it will be interesting to see if the New Orleans Pelicans continue to be extra-cautious when it comes to practices and group meetings.
The New Orleans Pelicans made a team announcement expressing support for the NBA’s decisive action, but have not yet explained how they will handle the suspension in terms of players, team staff and or arena personnel.
A statement from the New Orleans Pelicans:https://t.co/pbCy8o4hhf
— New Orleans Pelicans (@PelicansNBA) March 12, 2020
It is clear that the NBA and the New Orleans Pelicans are taking this seriously, so it is likely that there will be further information about team practices closer to Tuesday, when the league should have more information about spread of the disease.
It is an unprecedented time for the New Orleans Pelicans and the league as a whole, but it was good to see the NBA take a leadership role in response to COVID-19.
Please stay safe, and if you’d like further information about the coronavirus, please visit the World Health Organization website.