Yesterday LA Lakers forward Jared Dudley was a guest on AM570’s Petros & Money Show and talked about his experiences getting back into the practice facility as well as a possible NBA return.
Throughout the interview, Dudley was asked a set of questions about his experience in returning to practice at the Lakers facility in El Segundo, CA. He walked through the process of walking into the building, which is now a step by step process that in his words, “definitely has to get used to it”.
Dudley explains how the doctor checks your temperature as well as answering a few questions that takes about 2 minutes. He then explains how the medical staff asks players to remove the shoes you walked in with and given slippers as you head into the locker room. Masks are required in all areas unless you are training, or being worked on Dudley states.
“Once you’re back on the court, everything goes back to normal”,
The biggest question that was asked to Dudley is when he feels the NBA season could start up again. He stated, “I mean to be honest with you, It can happen right now.” Dudley feels and understands that the safety nets put in place for players and staff is understandable and needed or in his words, “makes people feel safer if it’s put in stages”.
Dudley feels the game could be back to a normal feeling in about 4 weeks as he states that it will take time to get used to the “new norm” of wearing masks and being tested all the time. Obviously everyone wants to NBA to return, but with so many players, everyone is going to have their personal feelings on coming back.
Regardless of the timetable, Dudley feels, as many Laker players and fans do, that we’ve been somewhat cheated of something great. The Lakers were sitting atop of the Western Conference en route to the playoffs. A possible championship run was in place and now with the halted season, the team needs to be mentally ready as well as physical to get that ability back.
Let’s hope that Dudley’s perception of the game returning comes true. We miss you basketball.
