Some NBA practice facilities could re-open next week, ESPN reports

Some NBA practice facilities could re-open next Friday but does not mean resumption of the suspended season is imminent, according to reports

SHOWS: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (FILE - FEBRUARY 15, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 1.

INTERIOR UNITED CENTER - VARIOUS OF NBA PLAYERS DURING PRACTICE SESSION FOR 2020 NBA ALL-STAR GAME.

2.

LEBRON JAMES TAKING SHOT 3.

LUKA DONCIC TAKING SHOT 4.

BEN SIMMONS, RUSSELL WESTBROOK, NIKOLA JOKIC TAKING SHOTS 5.

GIANNIS ANTETOKUONMPO ON COURT DURING PRACTICE SESSION 6.

RUDY GOBERT TAKING SHOT SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES (FILE - MARCH 11, 2020) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) 7.

EXTERIOR OF CHASE CENTER, HOME OF THE GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS NBA TEAM 8.

SIGN SAYING CLOSED AT BOX OFFICE 9.

VARIOUS OF CORONOVIRUS INFORMATION SIGNS ON DOORS OF CHASE CENTER STORY: Some NBA practice facilities could re-open as early as next Friday, ESPN reported late Saturday (April 25), but that does not mean any resumption of the suspended season is imminent.

The NBA was the first major professional American sports league to halt its season due to the coronavirus, doing so abruptly on March 11 after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive.

But as a handful of American states, notably Georgia, are starting to loosen stay-at-home restrictions, the league could be moving to allow players to return to practice facilities in those areas.

The workouts would be voluntary, and individual in nature, ESPN said on its website.

It also reported that the league is working with teams based in locales with stricter stay-at-home orders to find alternative arrangements for their players.

The NBA did not immediately respond to a request by Reuters for comment.

Some American states have been much harder hit by the coronavirus than others.

The NBA was about one-quarter of the way through its regular season of 82 games for each team when the season was halted.

The playoffs had been scheduled to start last week and conclude in mid-June.

(Production: David Grip)