According to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, the Denver Nuggets decided to shut down their practice facility this week due to positive coronavirus tests within the team’s traveling party to Orlando in an attempt to prevent spread to the rest of the team.
Gathering players together and ramping up individual efforts to prepare for a trip to Orlando to play in the bubble was always going to be a difficult task for every NBA team. The Nuggets are a prime example, with Nikola Jokic reported testing positive for coronavirus while in Serbia and head coach Michael Malone testing positive for antibodies back in March. The Nuggets have been affected by coronavirus and understand what the ramifications are, and it appears that positive tests have led to swift action.
According to Mike Singer of the Denver Post, two members of Denver’s 35 person traveling party tested positive for coronavirus to start this process.
The dangers of bringing together players, coaches, ad team personnel at the same time are apparent, and for the Nuggets, the clock is ticking. Denver was one of several teams slated to travel to the Orlando bubble to get themselves situated on July 7th. The hope for that process was to have every member of the 35 person traveling party healthy and coronavirus free so the bubble environment could be maintained. If the two players in Denver’s traveling party don’t generate multiple negative tests by the time July 7th hits, it appears the Nuggets will be one of the first teams in the league to have a staggered arrival within their own party.
The NBA will continue to try and make the Orlando bubble happen, and both the league and its players have decided that at least having the opportunity to finish the season is important enough to weather the potential risks. It appears potential is turning into reality in this case.
Denver Stiffs will continue providing updates on the latest news and tidbits regarding the Denver Nuggets and their path to restarting the season.
