Worry over virus spike Report: NBA players won’t be punished if they stay home
So maybe the players aren’t so keen on restarting the season.
With coronavirus cases spiking in Florida, “several dozen” NBA players held a conference call to discuss whether the Orlando bubble is a good idea, according to ESPN. Their issues reportedly include COVID-19, social justice and family concerns.
Perhaps as a result, the league won’t punish players for staying home, the report said. However, those players will sacrifice their salaries for games missed. In other words, the bubble will be optional but there’s a monetary reward for playing.
It will be interesting to see which players, if any, will forgo the bubble and playoff hopes. At least publicly, they’ve all been enthusiastic about playing basketball again. Only players rehabbing from injuries — like Kevin Durant and John Wall — have ruled themselves out. But the virus in the U.S. is experiencing a second surge and the idea of spending months bubbled inside Disney World might not be so appealing.
Jeff Van Gundy told the Daily News last week that the quarantine restrictions shouldn’t be underestimated. The championship team, for instance, would have to remain inside the Orlando bubble for three months.
“I think also we can’t try to mitigate the length of time and staying power that teams playing all the way through in the bubble are going to have to have,” Van Gundy said. “For them being in one spot and not at home ever for that amount of time, and how draining road trips can be mentally.”
Van Gundy added that a COVID-19 infection inside the bubble could sound an alarm.
“Right now we’re somewhat underestimating the fear of that scenario,” Van Gundy told the Daily News. “For the players on the guy’s team, for the players who have played against that team or will play against that team or that will play against that team. I’m not sure we know — because I know I don’t know, if that fear is going to be more than I expect, less than I expect.
“And what if, God forbid, it happens to one of our star players?” Van Gundy says. “It’s one thing if it happens to a 12th man, for competitive reasons, but also for the amount of fear it drives. What if it happens to one of the all-time guys in league?”
Coronavirus cases in Central Florida have been increasing since the statewide stay-athome order was lifted in early May. Orange County, where the NBA will resume, has experienced a 64% increase in cases between May 5 and June 9.
LEAGUE WANTS TO CHECK RISK FACTORS
As a killer, COVID-19 has proven particularly effective against the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions. It doesn’t care if you’re offended by its prejudice. So even though older coaches like Mike D’Antoni and Alvin Gentry might feel unfairly targeted, the NBA wants to gather health intel on its personnel before opening up the Orlando bubble.
According to ESPN, team and league employees will be asked to submit personal medical records to determine “the individual risk of serious illness” because of COVID-19.
If the review turns into recommendations for restricting access of vulnerable people inside the Orlando bubble — or even disallowing them entirely from entering — coaches like D’Antoni (69 years old), Gentry (65) and Gregg Popovich (71) could fall into that category.
Most health agencies label people 65-and-over as highrisk for serious complications due to the virus. Multiple assistant coaches are also over 65.
Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged that “certain coaches” might be banned from the bench for their own protection, which prompted D’Antoni, the Rockets coach, and Gentry, the Pelicans coach, to preemptively lobby against restrictions.
“At the end of the day, they’re the league. They’re going to make the choice,” Gentry told ESPN. “I think it’s unfair if that’s what they’re doing. I understand the risk that I’m taking if I do get it. But hell, I want to be with my team and do my job. That’s what they hired me for.”
Added D’Antoni, “I am sure they want to keep everyone safe, but to start singling people out with more risk, well, I would hope they wouldn’t want to get into that.”