The NBA's board of governors approved a return-to-play plan on Thursday, paving the way for the league to resume in Florida following a three-month coronavirus shutdown.

The NBA said a proposal put to the league's board that will see 22 teams based at a single location had passed comfortably.

"We are in the equivalent of the first inning. We've got a long ways to go here," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told American cable station TNT on Thursday night. "We have always been looking for a safe way to resume, knowing we are going to be living with this virus for a while."

Twenty-nine teams voted in favor of the return-to-play plan, with Portland the lone vote against, according to reports.

Under the NBA's proposals, the league would resume on July 31 with 22 teams based at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando to minimize the threat of COVID-19. Games will be played without spectators.

Playoffs would take place in August, with the NBA Finals set to be completed by October 12.&nbsp;

The league has also penciled in a provisional December 1 start date for the 2020-2021 season.

"The Board's approval of the restart format is a necessary step toward resuming the NBA season," Silver said.

"While the COVID-19 pandemic presents formidable challenges, we are hopeful of finishing the season in a safe and responsible manner based on strict protocols now being finalized with public health officials and medical experts."

The NBA Players Association must sign off on the restart plan for it to take effect. The NBAPA is expected to vote on the plan during a conference call set for Friday.

Silver said there are still some complex issues to be decided, including how to ensure the safety of some of their older coaches. He indicated that "certain coaches" may not be on the bench at all. San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is 71, and New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry is 65.

Silver meanwhile referred to the protests that have erupted across the United States since the death of an unarmed black man in police custody in Minneapolis last week.

"We also recognize that as we prepare to resume play, our society is reeling from recent tragedies of racial violence and injustice, and we will continue to work closely with our teams and players to use our collective resources and influence to address these issues in very real and concrete ways," Silver said.

<h2>- Quarantine, testing -</h2>

The NBA suspended its season on March 11 as the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, leaving professional sport in North America at a standstill.

Sixteen teams occupying the playoff berths in the Western and Eastern Conferences will be joined by six more teams to determine the final playoff line-up.

Nine teams from the Eastern Conference will be led by the Milwaukee Bucks and the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors.&nbsp;

The Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards complete the contingent from the East.

The Western Conference will provide 13 teams, including LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers.&nbsp;

Each of the 22 teams will play eight regular-season games for seeding purposes for the postseason.

The league plans for teams to start training camps in their home cities on June 30 before travelling to Orlando on July 7.&nbsp;

The league wants to have daily testing, and if a player tests positive, he would be isolated and quarantined.&nbsp;

The others would carry on playing while still being tested on a daily basis.

This year's regular season was halted abruptly after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive.&nbsp;

Gobert, of France, was given the all-clear about two weeks later.

So far, less than a dozen NBA players have been confirmed as testing positive for the coronavirus, although not all have been identified.

The NBA is the first major professional sports league disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak in North America to confirm a return date.

Although the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer have both announced plans to return, neither league has revealed details of when they expect competition to resume.

Major League Baseball meanwhile remains mired in a bitter contractual wrangle between teams and players with no clear idea of when the season may start.

The NBA's board of governors approved a return-to-play plan on Thursday, paving the way for the league to resume in Florida following a three-month coronavirus shutdown.

The NBA's board of governors approved a return-to-play plan on Thursday, paving the way for the league to resume in Florida following a three-month coronavirus shutdown. The NBA said a proposal put to the league's board that will see 22 teams based at a single location had passed comfortably. "We are in the equivalent of the first inning. We've got a long ways to go here," NBA Commissioner Adam Silver told American cable station TNT on Thursday night. "We have always been looking for a safe way to resume, knowing we are going to be living with this virus for a while." Twenty-nine teams voted in favor of the return-to-play plan, with Portland the lone vote against, according to reports. Under the NBA's proposals, the league would resume on July 31 with 22 teams based at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando to minimize the threat of COVID-19. Games will be played without spectators. Playoffs would take place in August, with the NBA Finals set to be completed by October 12. The league has also penciled in a provisional December 1 start date for the 2020-2021 season. "The Board's approval of the restart format is a necessary step toward resuming the NBA season," Silver said. "While the COVID-19 pandemic presents formidable challenges, we are hopeful of finishing the season in a safe and responsible manner based on strict protocols now being finalized with public health officials and medical experts." The NBA Players Association must sign off on the restart plan for it to take effect. The NBAPA is expected to vote on the plan during a conference call set for Friday. Silver said there are still some complex issues to be decided, including how to ensure the safety of some of their older coaches. He indicated that "certain coaches" may not be on the bench at all. San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich is 71, and New Orleans Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry is 65. Silver meanwhile referred to the protests that have erupted across the United States since the death of an unarmed black man in police custody in Minneapolis last week. "We also recognize that as we prepare to resume play, our society is reeling from recent tragedies of racial violence and injustice, and we will continue to work closely with our teams and players to use our collective resources and influence to address these issues in very real and concrete ways," Silver said. - Quarantine, testing - The NBA suspended its season on March 11 as the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, leaving professional sport in North America at a standstill. Sixteen teams occupying the playoff berths in the Western and Eastern Conferences will be joined by six more teams to determine the final playoff line-up. Nine teams from the Eastern Conference will be led by the Milwaukee Bucks and the reigning NBA champion Toronto Raptors. The Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets, Orlando Magic and Washington Wizards complete the contingent from the East. The Western Conference will provide 13 teams, including LeBron James' Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. Each of the 22 teams will play eight regular-season games for seeding purposes for the postseason. The league plans for teams to start training camps in their home cities on June 30 before travelling to Orlando on July 7. The league wants to have daily testing, and if a player tests positive, he would be isolated and quarantined. The others would carry on playing while still being tested on a daily basis. This year's regular season was halted abruptly after Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive. Gobert, of France, was given the all-clear about two weeks later. So far, less than a dozen NBA players have been confirmed as testing positive for the coronavirus, although not all have been identified. The NBA is the first major professional sports league disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak in North America to confirm a return date. Although the National Hockey League and Major League Soccer have both announced plans to return, neither league has revealed details of when they expect competition to resume. Major League Baseball meanwhile remains mired in a bitter contractual wrangle between teams and players with no clear idea of when the season may start.

NBA to return as board approves return-to-play plan

The NBA informed clubs Monday that it plans to allow individual workouts by players at team facilities no sooner than May 8 in areas where allowed by government regulations.

The league shut down its 2019-20 season on March 12 after Utah's Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus and this marks the first small step toward resuming the campaign, although no timetable for that has been announced.

The move comes as several state and local governments have started easing stay-at-home orders on non-essential business activity.

Georgia and Oklahoma were among the first states with NBA teams to relax quarantine regulations, opening the door to possible workouts at club gyms and courts, with more states set to follow suit in the coming days.

"The purpose of these changes is to allow for safe and controlled environments for players to train in states that allow them to do so, and to create a process for identifying safe training options for players located in other states," the league said in a statement.

While advising that May 8 was the target date for allowing players into team facilities, the league warned it might push back the timing as developments warrant regarding the deadly virus outbreak.

Team facilities would be available for workouts or treatment on a voluntary individual basis provided no government restrictions against such activities are in place.

That is expected to open the door for as many as 10 NBA clubs to have players in team facilities, seen as secure environments, within a few days and potentially several more clubs by the opening date.

Another concern for the league is the potential fitness advantage some teams could gain over others based upon the ability to conduct workouts in team facilitities.

The NBA said it will work with teams to "identify alternatives" for any team that is prohibited from making its facility available to players due to government restrictions.

In theory, that could include having players working out at facilities of rival NBA clubs, possibly based upon where players reside or are located.

The NBA said no more than four players would be permitted at a facility at the same time and that no head coaches or assistant coaches could participate in any workouts.

Group activities, including practices or scrimmages, remain banned, and players are also prohibited from using non-team facilities such as public health clubs, fitness centers, or gyms.

The NBA regular season was halted with more than a month remaining in the campaign. The NBA playoffs, which last two months, were to have opened on April 18.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he would not examine a timetable for resumption of games before May, with speculation the league could go as late as early September in trying to stage a full post-season schedule.

Scenarios for resuming games while complying with coronavirus health restrictions have centered upon playing matches at a venue with teams gathered at one location and players sequestered, potentially for months, to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus.

The NBA informed clubs Monday that it plans to allow individual workouts by players at team facilities no sooner than May 8 in areas where allowed by government regulations.

The NBA informed clubs Monday that it plans to allow individual workouts by players at team facilities no sooner than May 8 in areas where allowed by government regulations. The league shut down its 2019-20 season on March 12 after Utah's Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus and this marks the first small step toward resuming the campaign, although no timetable for that has been announced. The move comes as several state and local governments have started easing stay-at-home orders on non-essential business activity. Georgia and Oklahoma were among the first states with NBA teams to relax quarantine regulations, opening the door to possible workouts at club gyms and courts, with more states set to follow suit in the coming days. "The purpose of these changes is to allow for safe and controlled environments for players to train in states that allow them to do so, and to create a process for identifying safe training options for players located in other states," the league said in a statement. While advising that May 8 was the target date for allowing players into team facilities, the league warned it might push back the timing as developments warrant regarding the deadly virus outbreak. Team facilities would be available for workouts or treatment on a voluntary individual basis provided no government restrictions against such activities are in place. That is expected to open the door for as many as 10 NBA clubs to have players in team facilities, seen as secure environments, within a few days and potentially several more clubs by the opening date. Another concern for the league is the potential fitness advantage some teams could gain over others based upon the ability to conduct workouts in team facilitities. The NBA said it will work with teams to "identify alternatives" for any team that is prohibited from making its facility available to players due to government restrictions. In theory, that could include having players working out at facilities of rival NBA clubs, possibly based upon where players reside or are located. The NBA said no more than four players would be permitted at a facility at the same time and that no head coaches or assistant coaches could participate in any workouts. Group activities, including practices or scrimmages, remain banned, and players are also prohibited from using non-team facilities such as public health clubs, fitness centers, or gyms. The NBA regular season was halted with more than a month remaining in the campaign. The NBA playoffs, which last two months, were to have opened on April 18. NBA commissioner Adam Silver said he would not examine a timetable for resumption of games before May, with speculation the league could go as late as early September in trying to stage a full post-season schedule. Scenarios for resuming games while complying with coronavirus health restrictions have centered upon playing matches at a venue with teams gathered at one location and players sequestered, potentially for months, to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus.

NBA set to allow individual workouts not before May 8

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NBA to return as board approves return-to-play plan

NBA set to allow individual workouts not before May 8