Lakers News: Part of the NBA’s resumption will include cutting-edge technology.
Los Angeles Lakers news continues to trickle in as we get closer and closer to the NBA resuming the 2019-20 season at the end of June. Details such as which hotels the teams will be staying at, the amenities that will be provided and safety rules for the bubble city have all been announced.
According to NBA insider Shams Charania, players will have things such as a players lounge with video games, barbers, manicurists, pedicurists and will be able to pass the time with activities such as ping pong, golf and even attending the other games in the league.
The league also sent teams a 113-page document outlining safety protocols that including things such as not playing doubles ping pong and not wearing headsets while gaming to maintain social distancing. Everyone in the bubble will be tested thoroughly, and the league will not be policing these protocols, but they have established a hotline for players to call to report concerning activity.
One of the advanced technologies that players can take advantage of while being in the bubble is the Oura Smart Ring. The ring measures body temperature, respiratory functions and heart rate and can predict COVID-19 symptoms up to three days in advance with 90 percent accuracy (h/t Complex).
These rings are also available for purchase to the public and range from $299 to $399. This technology could be huge to maintain safety while in the bubble city, but not every player is completely buying in on the idea.
Lakers news: Kyle Kuzma does not seem thrilled about the smart rings
Kyle Kuzma took to Twitter to give his comments on the Oura Ring, and let’s just say that our early estimates are that he is not going to be wearing the ring during his time at Disney World.
https://twitter.com/kylekuzma/status/1273713708359802880
The rings are optional, but the players are already being required to wear a different kind of technology that Kuzma might also not like as it could be viewed as a tracker in the Magic Bands.
Disney World utilizes MagicBand technology at the resort and theme parks that can purchase items as well as manage Fast Pass reservations. The players will be wearing these MagicBands and they will be used to get into rooms, through security checkpoints and to help the league with contact tracing in the event that someone tests positive for COVID-19.
The MagicBands are required to be worn at all times, except during workouts and games.
So if Kyle Kuzma is really worried about wearing the Oura ring because of it potentially tracking him then he might not be too happy about the MagicBands.