A five-minute, air-conditioned walk and a key card. That’s all it takes for any Washington Wizards player to go from his hotel room to a regulation-sized basketball court where he can shoot baskets at any time of day or night during this year’s NBA Summer League. The Wizards have rented a 14,000-square-foot ballroom at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center and turned it into a temporary practice facility that also includes weight-room equipment, a large TV for film sessions and tables where athletic trainers and physical therapists can treat players. For eight days, it serves as the Wizards’ home away from home. “This is beyond a blessing,” forward Eugene Omoruyi said. -via New York Times / July 18, 2024