In a memo sent on Thursday, the NBA has informed teams that they should shutter their facilities due to the coronavirus situation, SNY's Ian Begley confirmed.
In the memo, the league says that the closure of facilities is "until further notice" and the "directive is consistent with an increasing number of state and local government restrictions", as well as the current consensus for how to slow down the spread of the virus.
Teams had been cautious during workouts with players prior to the ban. Several teams had limited workouts to 20 minutes per player. Some teams didn't want the coach working with the player to touch the ball the player was shooting with, instructing the player to use a shooting machine rather than having the coach rebound. With team facilities now closed, players will have to work out on their own while following the league guidelines around social distancing.
Per the league's memo, teams are now prohibited from organizing or engaging with players in any group or individual practices or workouts, though teams can still provide players with workout plans, schedules, and other info.
The NBA had recently informed teams that players were allowed to travel out of market, but that the preference of the league was that players remain in the cities they play.
Additionally, players are not allowed to travel outside North America.
The memo reiterated that players are recommended to stay in their city's home market, but if travel to a player's home city is absolutely essential, he should travel to his destination and stay there.
The NBA suspended its season indefinitely last Wednesday after Utah's Rudy Gobert tested positive for Covid-19. Since Gobert's positive test, at least six other players have tested positive, including Kevin Durant and three other Nets. The Knicks said they have not tested their players.
As the United States and rest of the world has implemented new protocols in an effort to slow down the spread of coronavirus, most leagues have been at least partially shuttering their team facilities.
Major League Baseball, which suspended spring training last week and has delayed the start of the regular season until at least the second week of May, is no longer allowing group workouts at spring training facilities. However, players are allowed to work out on an individual basis.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke Wednesday night, discussing three potentinal scenarios the league is considering as the potential resumption of the season is pondered.
"We're gonna try by every means we can to play basketball again," Silver said in an interview with ESPN. "But I say that the safety and health of our players is first, and our fans, which is why I don't want to speculate more on that.
"That will be the condition upon which we can play: when public health officials give us the OK."