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Trail Blazers: Oregon governor says no crowds for sport until October

By Stevie Cozens

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 25: Damian Lillard #0 and CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers stand on the court for the National Anthem before their game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on October 25, 2019 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 25: Damian Lillard #0 and CJ McCollum #3 of the Portland Trail Blazers stand on the court for the National Anthem before their game against the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center on October 25, 2019 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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With a potential NBA return in July or August, it’s not looking like there will be any crowds at Portland Trail Blazers homes games until at least October.

Oregon Governor Kate Brown announced on Thursday that steps will be made to try and open the state dependent on the COVID-19 pandemic. Unfortunately for the Portland Trail Blazers though, the Oregon Health Authority advised her that any large gatherings should be cancelled until at least the end of September.

Sporting events and concerts were the main point of this discussion, with these events unlikely to take place until there is a reliable vaccine.

Oregon’s health officer said in regards to sports returning without crowds, that non-contact sport would resume being played first, like golf or tennis. He then went onto say, that when the contact sports did resume, that he recommended no crowds ‘ through September. ‘

This comes on the back of CJ McCollum‘s comments on three NBA teams, including the Blazers announcing that they decided to open their practice facilities up recently as the NBA loosened rules around individual workouts too.

Speaking to Yahoo Sports NBA Insider Chris Haynes, McCollum expressed whether it was really worth starting individual workouts again.

"“I am worried like the rest of the world, but I like that it is optional and I’m pleased with the caution, structure and measures the Blazers organization has put in place to ensure the safest environment possible for all parties involved,” McCollum told Yahoo Sports. “I get the measures [the league is] taking, but you have to think at some point when there are drastic measures that need to be taken, ‘Is it really worth it?’ It’s either safe or it’s not.“ … And let’s just be honest, man, it’s not like it will be the first time players got gym access outside of the team’s facilities. Some people have been working out, if we’re being honest.”"

McCollum has a point. Until things are clearer around vaccines and the full re-opening of states, it’s understandable that some players aren’t convinced about returning to practice.

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The NBPA has calls with all players coming up to discuss the situation, but fans and players alike are hoping that Adam Silver and the league will announce a long-term plan as to when the league can look to start again.