Timberwolves To Open Up Practice Facility, Allow Workouts

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Timberwolves announced Wednesday that the team will open its practice facility at Mayo Clinic Square for voluntary workouts beginning Thursday. The team said it made the decision " in conjunction with local government officials, infectious disease experts and public health authorities."

"Strict protocols have been designed to ensure this initial level of access will take place in a safe, controlled and healthy way," the team added.

Safeguards include:

• "One coach and one player will be allowed on the floor at a time and parties will be required to keep a 12-foot social distance."
• "Workouts will be limited to 45 minutes."
• "Locker room, weight room, offices and other areas of the building will remain closed."
• "Staff members will wear gloves and masks at all times when in the building. Players will wear masks at all times except when on court."
• "A thorough cleaning of all spaces and equipment, including basketballs, will take place before and after each player uses the building."
• "Symptom and temperature checks will be done by team medical staff before anyone enters the facility."
• "Contact tracing will be administered upon entry. Contact tracing will help identify where players have been the past 24 hours and if there were any cases reported from that location."
• "Players will receive custom to-go meals from KZ Provisioning lead by Chefs Gavin Kaysen and Andrew Zimmern. Players in market have received daily meals from KZ Provisioning during the NBA hiatus."
• "There will be no media, public or general staff access to the building, and security will be in place outside the facility to ensure physical distancing and the safety of everyone on site."

No plans to restart the NBA season have been formally announced.