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CLEVELAND (AP) – There has been a huge void in Larry Nance Jr.’s life that no amount of watching Korean soccer games, practicing yoga, riding a stationary bike, or playing video games can replace.
Basketball is their world.
The COVID-19 pandemic has deprived Nance of his greatest passion and profession, for which the Cleveland Cavaliers forward was grateful to return to real life, even for a short time.
Nance is one of the few NBA players who has been able to train after the teams obtained permission to reopen their training facilities, which have been closed for nearly two months due to a virus outbreak that has halted the season and endangered its conclusion.
Nance returned to the Cavs’ complex on Friday, and for two hours, the 27-year-old felt complete again.
“This is the longest time I have not played a game of basketball in my entire life,” he said Tuesday in a Zoom conference call.
The Cavs and Portland Trail Blazers were the first teams to reopen their facilities last week for voluntary, structured practice that is restricted to one player and one coach in each basket. More teams are slated to hold workouts this week as more states loosen the pattern that has paralyzed team sports in North America.
Nance, who acknowledged undergoing a coronavirus test for “panic” in March, said that while the conditions are somewhat surreal to practice, he felt safe due to the masks and other safety measures.
“For me that just provides a sense of security,” he said of the facial liners. “You get your two basketballs, that’s all. You have a coach with masks and gloves that are unique to you. Even in the weight room, you lift a weight, and if you were using 45s (pounds), nobody else that One day he was allowed to wear the 45s until they were cleaned and sterilized, so for me it was so well regulated that I feel pretty safe. “
Last week, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver spoke to the players and presented some plans that the league is considering completing the season. Some of the options include fanless games and games in a centralized location, with Florida among the possibilities.
Nance said he is cautiously optimistic about a restart. And while the Cavs are not chasing a title, they were 19-46 when the season ended, he feels it is imperative that the league crown a champion.
“We’re not in a position to win a championship this year, but if it was, if it was Giannis (Antetokounmpo), if it was LeBron (James), if it was Kawhi (Leonard), if it was in one of those caliber team championships, it would be pretty upset about that, ”he said. “It’s very rare in this league that an opportunity like this arises that has taken away a valuable year from someone’s career.”
“Everyone in the league, we want to finish this year. One, obviously because we love the game, but at the same time there is a great possibility that we will lose, more than 20 percent of our contracts, which is for many quite important boys “.
Like many sports fans, Nance has spent part of his quarantine watching “The Last Dance,” ESPN’s 10-part documentary about Michael Jordan and his final season with the Chicago Bulls. Nance has a unique perspective since his father, Larry Sr., played against Jordan for many years.
The episodes have turned into week-long individual battles between the Nances.
“Our whole debate as we watch the show is just new versus old,” said Nance. “Why Michael could have scored more in today’s NBA, but also why LeBron would have been so dominant in that league.” And while it is about M.J., we have been comparing, contrasting times and players. Sunday comes, but the talks continue until next Sunday. “
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