Paul, NBA coaches grateful for bubble as MLB struggles
Chris Paul had just finished Monday’s practice when he was informed of the coronavirus outbreak on the Miami Marlins, forcing the postponement of at least two Major League Baseball games and an emergency call between all 30 team owners.
Paul, the Oklahoma City All-Star point guard and National Basketball Players Association president, said the situation reminded him of the NBA in March, when a ThunderJazz game was abruptly called right before tipoff because Utah center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for COVID-19.
Paul then echoed the sentiment that others across the Orlando, Floridas campus have expressed: He is glad the NBA’s restart is being held inside the Walt Disney World “bubble.”
“I know, right now, this seems to be the safest way possible (to play),” Paul said.
In addition to daily testing, team personnel are required each morning to measure and record their temperature, oxygen saturation levels and any irregular health symptoms in a cellphone app connected to the league.
ZION EXPECTED BACK WEDNESDAY >> The New Orleans Pelicans expect star rookie forward Zion Williamson to be back at practice by the middle of this week, according to published reports.
According to Pelicans executive vice president of basketball operations David Griffin, Wednesday is the target day for Williamson to return to the court.
Williamson left the NBA bubble near Orlando earlier this month to tend to an urgent family medical matter. He returned to the bubble on Friday and, per NBA guidelines, can rejoin his teammates after four days should he continuously test negative during his quarantine.
IRVING TO HELP WNBA PLAYERS >> Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving has committed $1.5 million to support WNBA players who decided to skip the 2020 season for health, personal, professional or safety-related reasons.
The fund is being administered by the KAI Empowerment Initiative, which Irving launched Monday. The NBA veteran contributed all of the money.
The WNBA is playing a 22-game regular season schedule exclusively at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., amid the pandemic.
Irving is not with the Nets as they prepare to resume the NBA season in their own bubble at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex near Orlando as he recovers from shoulder surgery. Injuries limited the six-time All-Star to just 20 games in his first season in Brooklyn.