LOS ANGELES – LA Clippers guard Lou Williams is expected to travel with the team to Orlando and participate in the NBA's return, head coach Doc Rivers said on Wednesday afternoon.
Speaking with a group of reporters on a conference call via Zoom, Rivers said he or the team haven't been given any indication that Williams will stay back when the team is scheduled to travel to Orlando in a week.
“As far as Lou, all indications is that yes, he is [going to play],” Rivers said. “I mean, obviously up until we get on the plane, anything can happen. But I do expect Lou to be with us. I would be very surprised if he's not.”
As for other members of the Clippers potentially sitting out?
“I don't think so,” Rivers added. “But listen, it is their choice, and we support that. There's so many reasons for everyone to play, but there's also very valid reasons for guys to opt out. I don't think many will. I think they're all invested in what we're trying to do. But again, you don't hold it against anyone on any team. This is extraordinary times, and we just have to support each other.”
Of all the professional sports leagues, the NBA has been leading the charge in many ways. They were the first to shut down their league once the coronavirus began spreading in the United States, and they had countless players lend their voice in support of equality and against social injustice.
About 10 days ago, Williams said he was '50/50′ on playing when the season picks back up again, citing other causes that need attention.
“This is a whirlwind of a time,” Williams told viewers on CoStar. “We don’t know what’s the right decision now. We’re trying to figure that out on the fly like everybody else because we have a job to do, livelihoods, we have families to feed and we’re also a majority of Black men at the same time. And so we’re trying to find that balance where if we do suit up we’re having conversations behind closed doors. If we do suit up, how much of this platform can we really use? Can we get a ‘Black Lives Matter’ patch on our jerseys? Can our jerseys say ‘Black Lives Matter’? Can the court say ‘Black Lives Matter,’ so we can use that platform to the best of our abilities? It’s just hard to call, man. Honestly, it’s hard to call. I’m 50/50 right now, to be honest.”
It appears Williams has, at least for now, seen the moves and changes necessary to return to action.
Later in the call, Rivers also sayss that no person within the organization has tested positive for the coronavirus to his knowledge, but adds that he's not one to know that kind of information. He does, however, wish there was a better response from Donald Trump's administration and politicians in charge of decisions.
“I guess this is the only political statement I'll make on it: It would be great if we had national leadership, which we have zero on this, and so unfortunately, everyone is left to do their own thing from state to state and in some places from city to city. It's absurd.”
Rivers, Williams, and the Clippers are expected to practice for the next week in Los Angeles before arriving in Orlando, Florida on July 8th for the NBA's training camp period.
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