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Amid the coronavirus scare, the NBA is reportedly planning to limit locker room access to just players, coaches, front office members, basketball staff and PR personnel.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, teams are also instructed to create a “6-to-8 foot distance” between players and media during media availability outside locker rooms.
It is among the recommendations made by infectious disease and public health experts consulted by the NBA in their bid to protect all their stakeholders while preventing the further spread of COVID-19.
Reporting with @WindhorstESPN: NBA is planning to limit locker room access to only players and essential team personnel in wake of coronavirus. Teams are also instructed to create a 6-to-8 foot distance between players and media in availability sessions outside locker rooms.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 9, 2020
League told teams these are among recommendations of infectious disease and public health experts. Essential team personnel in locker room would include coaches, front office, basketball staff, PR staff, etc). https://t.co/aCUQmkiLXC
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 9, 2020
The NBA scheduled a conference call for Wednesday with owners and governors to discuss possible other drastic measures to combat the virus. According to Zach Lowe and Woj, “there are escalating concerns among many owners and executives that the NBA could be headed toward games played with only essential personnel in arenas, but so far, the league office has only pushed teams to be prepared should that necessity arise.”
There's also a conference call set up for Monday night between the league and team physicians and trainers.
The NBA is preparing to “ramp up” preventative measures as the crisis grows. Over the weekend, the league sent out a memo telling teams to begin the process of preparing for playing possible games in front of just “essential staff” and without fans in attendance.
Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was not thrilled about the idea of playing games in front of empty seats, though.
“I ain't playing. If I ain't got the fans in the crowd, that's what I play for…If I show up to an arena, and there ain't no fans there? I ain't playing,” LeBron said after defeating the Milwaukee Bucks last week.
