Rumors Swirl Over Secret Los Angeles Lakers Scrimmages

The Los Angeles Lakers weren’t able to have their practice and scrimmages as usual due to the coronavirus pandemic. The NBA season was suspended on March 11 after Utah Jazz players tested positive for the virus. However, latest rumors suggest that the Lakers have held secret scrimmages.

LA was able to open the practice facility in May. Players and staffers follow strict guidelines on social distancing.

“It’s been pretty minimal as far as the number of bodies in the facility. They try to keep as many people away as they can at a time just so there’s less chance of catching anything, spreading anything, bringing anything in,” Lakers guard Alex Caruso revealed in an interview with UPROXX. “It’s been one-on-one work with the coach and one-on-one work with the strength coaches and one-on-one work with the training staff, but it’s been good.”

Practice sessions didn’t include any scrimmages. Well, the Lakers could easily gather at a private gym.

Bill Simmons talked about the rumors during an episode of The Bill Simons Podcast with New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick.

“Have you heard, there’s this L.A. rumor right now and I haven’t been able to crack it, of all the Lakers are playing at some rich guy’s house,” Simmons said. “And it’s all like ‘nobody talk about this,’ but have you heard about different rumors, and what teams are doing, and all that? Are you expecting people to show up (to Orlando) out of shape? What do you think?”

When you don’t post your workouts that means they never happened ??‍♂️ … so here’s what y’all love to see pic.twitter.com/wOhsy2irNN

— Damian Lillard (@Dame_Lillard) September 15, 2018

Reddick has played four seasons with the Clippers. What’s his taken on these rumors?

“All right, so in regards to the Lakers, I’ve heard similar things. Obviously nothing has been posted on social media providing us with the evidence that we need, but there is a gentleman, I think his house is in Bel-Air, who has a Staples Center replica in his backyard,” Redick said. “It’s a full court, locker rooms, weight rooms, steam shower, whatever you want. I’ve worked out there before. My assumption is those guys are working out there, that would make a lot of sense.”

Redick explained that Chandler Parson and John Wall have shared videos from a gym in Bel Air. NBA players know this is a facility they can use whenever they need to.

In 2018, Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard shared a video on Twitter. It’s from the same building.

In 2011, the South Florida Sun Sentinel reported that King James and the Miami Heat used the building during the five-game road trip. According to the report, Steve Jackson owns the estate. He is the chairman of L.A. Gear.