Boston Celtics will begin voluntary individual player workouts starting June 1

It’s a step in the right direction in getting the Boston Celtics back on the court.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced Friday afternoon in a press conference that Boston’s professional sports teams could open their practice facilities, which includes the Auerbach Center for the Celtics, starting next week while adhering to the safety guidelines administered by each league. The Celtics shortly after Baker’s announcement said they will begin to hold voluntary individual workouts at the Auerbach Center starting on June 1.

While these won’t be full-fledge practices for the Celtics, it does give their players a chance to return to the area and get back in a gym and shootaround — other teams across the NBA have already opened up practice facilities to players — since being off when the NBA shuttered its doors amid the COVID-19 pandemic starting in mid-March.

The Celtics released guidelines for their workouts as only limited shooting, strength and conditioning work and medical evaluation and therapy are allowed to take place. Also, only four players at a maximum will be allowed to conduct a workout at a time while working with only one staff member each.

“We’re happy that our players will now have the option to work out individually in a safe environment at the Auerbach Center, and we hope it signals a step back toward playing basketball again,” said Boston Celtics President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge in a press release.

While this is just a small first step in returning to game action, it is a start as our own Keith Smith reported that the NBA is targeting July 31 as a resume to play date.

If and when games do start again, they would most likely occur at a centralized location, like Walt Disney World.