The Portland Trail Blazers were supposed to open preseason training camp on Sunday.
Instead, the franchise shut down the training facility due to positive COVID-19 tests within the organization. “Over the past four days, we have had three positive COVID test results within our organization,” Trail Blazers president of basketball operations Neil Olshey said in a statement.
“Out of an abundance of caution, having completed contact tracing, we are closing our practice facility today for deep cleaning while we run confirmatory tests.”
NBA grappling with COVID-19 numbers
Last week, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association released the results from the league’s first round of mass testing for the 2020-21 season. As players and team personnel returned to their home markets in preparation for the upcoming season, set to begin on Dec. 22, the league conducted 546 player tests from Nov. 24-30.
Of that sample, 48 players tested positive for COVID-19. Teams and players who tested positive were not listed in that report. Those who returned a positive test during the initial testing phase are isolated until they are cleared under rules established by the NBA and the NBPA in accordance with CDC guidance.
The Trail Blazers are scheduled to begin their preseason schedule on Dec. 11 against the Sacramento Kings.
–Field Level Media ()