INDIANAPOLIS–No Indiana Pacers player has tested positive for the coronavirus. One player, however, had some symptoms for about 24 hours. But the team’s medical staff deemed a test wasn’t necessary after that player stopped having symptoms the next day.
Indiana Pacers General Manager Kevin Pritchard discussed the pandemic and its effect on his team and the NBA in a Zoom call Tuesday afternoon.
“The players want to play. I think the thing I’ve gotten back from our players the last two weeks is that they want to prove it. They want to prove that this team is a good team in the playoffs,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard says he is confident the NBA will take the right action in deciding on the appropriate time to return.
“Our commissioner (Adam Silver) is incredible. I have so much confidence that he’s going to know and he’s going to know when to take the appropriate risks. There are still going to be risks on the other side of this,” said Pritchard.
The last game the Pacers played was March 10 against the Boston Celtics, which means they’ve been away from game action for over a month. If the virus eases up and the league does decide to resume play this year, the players will need time to re-train for regular season play.
“I think they’re going to give us a good amount of time, but I don’t think it’s going to be a week. I would say two or three weeks minimum,” Pritchard said.
Pritchard says the coaching staff and players are staying in touch through Zoom and Microsoft Team during the pandemic.
Read more about Pritchard’s call here
