NBA players will have to wear team uniforms when arriving to games: Report

NBA has reportedly finalised a protocol that will see players don ir usual uniforms and warm-up kits when y arrive at stadium ahead of game. With league trying to ensure safety of players inside NBA bubble, latest protocol was reportedly agreed by league owners last week. 

During regular season (outside NBA bubble), players had liberty to dress up and arrive at games in style. Over years several players have carved out a niche in NBA as being kwn for ir eccentric fashion. likes of Houston Rockets' Russell Westbrook and James Harden, Los Angeles Lakers' Kyle Kuzma and several ors have used ir "tunnel walk" as a style statement. However, latest protocol means each player will be kitted up in ir team warm-up sets during pre-game session.

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NBA uniforms to be worn before leaving hotel

Per ESPN, primary reason for implementing protocol is fact that locker rooms at arenas are t equipped with showers. This would mean players would have an additional chore of changing in close quarters before and after games at venue, and that too without showering. Instead, NBA will instruct players to arrive wearing team outfits with proper sanitisation and social distancing guidelines followed. Players will also have to depart 40 minutes after game ends. 

"That is crazy," Houston Rockets star PJ Tucker told ESPN. "I think that takes away originally what getting dressed was all about. It wasn't even about tunnel walk, it was more about getting dressed up and going to work. To me, it's like a mindset, getting dressed and getting ready to go to my game. It puts me in mindset that I'm ready to work and helps me find my focus."

Per reports, only way players could make a fashion statement is with ir masks. It is said NBA will allow players to wear masks issued by league, team or y can also bring masks of ir own. 

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NBA season has been suspended since March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. After a four-month hiatus, 2019-20 season will resume on July 30 inside NBA bubble at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Teams have already started reporting at resort for initial phase of COVID testing post which players testing negative can continue with ir team's training session. 

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(Im Credits: Russell Westbrook, LeBron James Instagram Handle)