During a conference call with reporters, Los Angeles Lakers general manager Rob Pelinka downplayed concerns of photos showing LeBron James and Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons playing pickup basketball without any masks.
Pelinka stressed that the NBA's protocol doesn't require players wearing masks during games. They are required to wear them once they're off the court, though, in Orlando, Florida at the Walt Disney campus.
Rob Pelinka downplayed concerns of photos showing LeBron James & Ben Simmons playing pickup basketball without any masks. Pelinka stressed the NBA's protocol doesn't have players wearing masks during games. They are required to wear them once they're off the court, though.
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) June 30, 2020
The resumption of the 2019-20 season is one month away. Both the Lakers and Sixers have already clinched playoff spots.
A number of players have tested positive for COVID-19 since returning to their respective markets last week. Among them are Buddy Hield, Jabari Parker, DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie and Nikola Jokic.
Jordan announced on Monday he won't be joining the Brooklyn Nets in Orlando, while Dinwiddie is still deciding.
Before the season was suspended in March, LeBron James and the Lakers were in first place in the Western Conference standings. Meanwhile, Ben Simmons and the Sixers were in the sixth spot in the East.
Most pundits have the Lakers and Milwaukee Bucks meeting in the 2020 NBA Finals, although the Los Angeles Clippers out West and Sixers out East will have something to say about that.
LeBron missed the playoffs in 2018-19 for the first time since his second year in the NBA. With that said, everyone is expecting The King to go off in Orlando since he will be well-rested and eager to win championship No. 4.
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