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Chris Paul Says It'll Take 'A While' to Be Playoff-Ready After COVID-19 Layoff
May 14, 2020
Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Chris Paul went on The Late Late Show with James Corden and told Corden that it would "take a while" for him to be ready to get back into game shape for a potential resumption of the 2019-20 NBA season, which is suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
"A lot of guys have been home, a lot of guys haven't had access to weights and the gyms, and all that different type stuff," Paul said.
"It's a conversation amongst us players and whatnot to figure out but at least four weeks or so," he later added.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported on April 12 that one idea being floated around in league circles involved a 25-day transition period to get players physically ready for the remainder of the season.
Eleven days would be earmarked for individual workouts before a two-week training camp.
Some players have already begun working out on an individual, voluntary basis at their team facilities, which have been slowly opening up leaguewide beginning Friday.
Per NBA.com, teams that have welcomed players in include the Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, Miami Heat, Sacramento Kings, Denver Nuggets, Toronto Raptors, Portland Trail Blazers and Philadelphia 76ers. The Atlanta Hawks and Indiana Pacers have also done so.
Other teams have not had that luxury, most notably in states where there are still heavy shutdown restrictions and stay-at-home orders. Examples include Michigan, New York and Massachusetts, per the New York Times.
There has been much optimism in recent days about resuming the NBA season, with ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski tweeting the following Tuesday:
"ESPN Sources: Attendees left Board of Governors call w/ Adam Silver today feeling positive about momentum toward an NBA return to play this season. Discussion included how league/players will need to get comfortable w/ some positive tests for virus not shutting down a resumption."
Shams Charania of The Athletic wrote that commissioner Adam Silver and the league will make a decision if, when and how the season will resume within the next two to four weeks.