LA Clippers: Team provided players with home gyms early in shutdown
The LA Clippers made sure their players were well equipped to stay in shape during the NBA shutdown.
LA Clippers head coach Doc Rivers recently made an appearance on his son (and Houston Rockets’ guard) Austin Rivers‘ podcast where he talked about his team, his days as a player battling Michael Jordan, and more.
The elder Rivers revealed that in the first week of the NBA shutdown, the Clippers provided every player on the roster with a home gym fully stocked with a Peloton bike, treadmill, and weight equipment.
Rivers has previously talked about being confident his players would return from the hiatus in great shape, and now we know why.
Austin Rivers was in awe of the level of commitment the Clippers showed to their players by going above and beyond to provide them with the proper equipment they’d need to stay in shape with NBA action was on hold. He told his father, “That has to be way more than anybody else has done in the NBA. I haven’t heard anything like that within the NBA.”
Doc Rivers gave credit to President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank for thinking outside the box and acting quickly to provide the team with the equipment as soon as the league shut down. Frank was acting under the impression that the supply of quality home gym equipment would quickly run low as people throughout the country became confined to their homes. Rivers also mentioned the importance of the Clippers being owned by Steve Ballmer, who has shown time and time again he’s willing to do what it takes for the team to get whatever they need.
This is another example that the Clippers have become a franchise to envy in the NBA. Anecdotes such as this, and the younger Rivers’ reaction to them prove that the team is on the forefront of the NBA in terms of taking care of their players and cultivating an environment that any player would want to join. The story stands in stark contrast to reports that reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo has not been playing any basketball during the hiatus because he doesn’t have access to a hoop.
Coach Rivers said he knows this is an unprecedented situation, and the teams that stay in shape and keep ready during the shutdown will have an upper-hand once the season resumes.
Next. An LA Clippers inspired at-home workout: one exercise for every player. dark
Austin Rivers said the Rockets have been holding voluntary daily yoga workouts every day via video-conferencing service Zoom. We think the Clippers might have a slight upper-hand.