While teams have been asked to strip their traveling parties down to about 35, that means teams will bring nearly 800 people — players, coaches, trainers, equipment staff, etc. — to Orlando for the restart of the NBA season in July.
The NBA wants to know about them and if — because of pre-existing conditions — those people would be able to participate fully or have to be limited in some way, reports Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Sources: NBA has sent teams a medical history questionnaire for players, coaches, traveling party that physicians will use to determine if members can participate in restart either fully, or restrictions from certain activites, or excused due to pre-existing risk factor(s).
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
The most discussed of the possible restrictions came when Adam Silver said some NBA coaches older than 65 would not be able to coach on the sidelines. That three-man group includes Gregg Popovich (Spurs) at age 71, Mike D’Antoni (Rockets) at 68, and Alvin Gentry of the Pelicans (65). When he suggested this on an ESPN interview, there was immediate pushback from the teams, and the plan to keep out coaches was scrapped.
There will be coaches or staff not allowed to go to Orlando, others who will be limited, but none of them will be head coaches — that would be handicapping a team.
