Report: NBA paying close attention to German league's restart attempt

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The NBA is keeping close tabs on the German Basketball Bundesliga's (BBL) attempt to restart play with a 10-team tournament that begins Saturday in Munich, Zach Lowe and Jonathan Givony of ESPN report.

One unique element of the BBL's plan involves asking players to wear chips that monitor their movements during the three-week competition, German league commissioner Stefan Holz said.

The chips are supposed to assist with contact tracing in case one person contracts the coronavirus. However, players will not be obligated to wear them.

"It is voluntary," Holz said. "It is optional. It is to trace contacts. If there is one positive test within the group, the whole group could be in danger. It could be the end of the tournament."

The NBA has not announced any plans to track player movements once its regular season resumes July 31 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Like the NBA, the BBL is isolating participating personnel in one location during the tournament. However, unlike its North American counterpart, the BBL won't allow family members to visit team hotels. The NBA reportedly had recent discussions with the players union about how to allow some family members to join players inside the resort.