With the 2020 NBA season resuming July 30th at the Disney complex, players started arriving this past Tuesday, and more are expected shortly. After a long hiatus caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the practice facilities—which had only been used for occasional voluntary workouts—are opening back up. By Thursday, teams will be fully gathered at the venue to resume team-based drills. Toronto, the current title holders, will join the complex on Thursday. Their coaching staff feels positive about their prospects, stating that the team successfully handled the bulk of their preparation during their traveling pre-camp.
Houston coach Mike D’Antoni shared with the media that he views the upcoming days as a bit of an adventure, noting that the first few practices will serve primarily as icebreakers for the team. His main focus during these early stages is to evaluate the players' form and fitness. According to D’Antoni, the lack of a rigid routine is what makes this process fun and interesting, as it's a completely new experience for the players. He compared it to standard training camps where you plan a detailed roadmap, only to find that you have to adapt and discard parts of that plan once the actual work begins.
Until now, players were restricted from doing 1-on-1 drills at their own facilities, but the Disney complex will allow full team practices for roughly three weeks before games officially restart. Some athletes have expressed concerns that twenty-one days isn't enough time to reach peak competitive form, but the league has made it clear that the schedule remains fixed despite these concerns.
The Los Angeles Lakers are slated to arrive at Disney on Thursday. Head coach Frank Vogel, who is eager to move past the long separation from his family, believes the players' individual workouts have set them up for success. Vogel explained that those solo sessions were specifically designed to get the athletes back into game shape, ensuring they are physically prepared to transition into full-team training and be fully fit by the time the league officially tips off.