The NBA in a Saturday memo informed teams that coronavirus testing for players and staff taking part in the season restart "will begin June 23 and take place every other day," according to Bontemps & Lowe of ESPN.com. The memo said that players and "'essential team staff'" will be administered "both a COVID-19 test and an antibody test on June 23." The memo "doesn't say what type of testing the league will use," although the NBA has "partnered with Quest Diagnostics" (ESPN.com, 6/14). Despite announcing plans for testing, ESPN's Brian Windhorst noted the NBA did not announce "what happens in the event of a player testing positive." Windhorst: "The NBA certainly has to brace itself for positive tests as we even get ready to get started for training camp, much less going to Orlando” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 6/14).
SEEKING PROTECTIONS: Sources said that several of the NBA's top young stars had a Friday call with NBPA officials about the "possibility of league-financed insurance policies to protect against career-threatening injuries in the bubble restart in Orlando." Heat F Bam Adebayo, Kings G De'Aaron Fox, Lakers F Kyle Kuzma, Jazz G Donovan Mitchell and Celtics F Jayson Tatum -- "five players with significant star and earning power" -- reportedly talked with Exec Dir Michele Roberts and senior counsel Ron Klempner about the NBPA "facilitating talks with the league on possible insurance allowances." ESPN.com's Adrian Wojnarowski noted the five players are "eligible for rookie extensions beginning with the start of the free agency period in mid-October." The "increased risk of injury, based on a three month-plus league shutdown and a shortened training camp, has intensified concerns that the players are taking on heightened personal risk" (ESPN.com, 6/13).
