NBA Season Part 2: Life In The Orlando Bubble

The only thing I've read about it is from a couple days ago via WOJ on BSPN. Ultimately, the NBPA did indeed sign off already and the NBA is going to restart. But, here it is:

Faction of NBA players hesitant to restart season in Orlando bubble, sources say





Jun 10, 2020

• 
  Adrian WojnarowskiSenior NBA Insider:
  As a faction of NBA players hold conference calls to discuss uncertainty about restarting the season in the bubble in Orlando, Florida, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association are agreeing on a plan that would allow players to stay home without consequences, sources told ESPN.
  
  There were 40 to 50 players on conference calls over the past 24 hours discussing a number of concerns centered on the restart in Orlando, but there has been no formal petitioning to the NBPA from any group wanting out of the 22-team resumption, sources said.
  
  
  As players have started to come to terms with the restrictive and isolated nature of the Orlando bubble --- including no visitors until after the first round of the playoffs, nearly seven weeks after the opening of mid-July training camp -- there has been increased dialogue about the prudence of restarting the season for a number of players, especially those on non-championship contenders, sources said.
  
  
  Sources: Panel to look at NBA medical records
• 
  NBA playoff plans: Biggest winners and losers in a 22-team return
• 
  Next big NBA questions: Pay cuts, playoff negotiations and free agency

Executives and coaches around the NBA have had significant concerns about how players will adapt to an environment unlike any they've ever experienced and how those hurdles could impact the sustained competitive drive for teams. Many have worried, too, especially on teams that aren't title contenders, whether some players will start to seek avenues to bypass the resumption altogether.

Players are citing a number of concerns, including family situations, the inability to leave the Disney World Resort campus, the coronavirus pandemic and the implications surrounding the emergence of social justice causes in the country, sources said. Participants in Orlando -- including players -- will not be allowed to leave the bubble environment without a 10-day quarantine upon their return to the Disney grounds, sources said.

Players with medical issues that might put them in high-risk categories could seek an independent examination to learn whether they would be excused from participation, sources said. Even those told that they're fit to play would be allowed to bow out of Orlando, but without pay for the final eight regular-season games, sources said.

Players deciding against the Orlando resumption would not be paid for missed games, sources said. The league started withholding 25% of players' paychecks on June 15 because of the force majeure provision in the collective bargaining agreement that will repay teams for canceled games.

Players who decide against participating in Orlando could be replaced by a substitution player, sources told ESPN. The NBA plans to allow replacements for players who test positive for the coronavirus or suffer injuries, sources said. Those players who are replaced become ineligible for the rest of the 2019-20 season, sources said.

The NBA and NBPA have been working around the clock this week to finalize the terms of the restart. They hoped to have a term sheet and a health and safety protocol guide available to teams and players this week, sources said.

ESPN's Bobby Marks contributed to this report.

 

Let's try to keep politics out of this. There is a sub-forum for that.

 

That has nothing to do with politics, it's a just a famous doctor telling the truth about basketball.

 

I guess I've gotten too cynical. I don't buy this from Kyrie. Why do I think this is about him not wanting to go into that bubble because he knows his Nets will get booted in the first round? Dude sits out 30 games for a mild sprain. How am I to believe this is about anything but him not wanting to come back and play in meaningless (for him) games? If it were someone who actually has a shot at the title like Giannis or Lebron or Tatum or any other star on a contender, I'd believe this. Since it's Kyrie, I just think he wants to chill at home for another 4 months. Dude is mercurial as they come and borders on being a cancer to his teams. I don't doubt he wants social reform. Most of us do. I just think he's using it as an excuse to get out of something he doesn't want to do.

 

I don’t have an issue with anyone who feels this isn’t the right time to start playing basketball again. BUT, on the other hand it is their job, and if the job starts up again they should either play, or of course choose not too, and then I’d think not be paid for that part of their contract.

 

I think they can have more impact by playing the game and staying socially active online and by issuing statements before & after games. Millions of people will watch and pay attention. If you are not playing and not making $, you are also not making any real impact. I don't see how they can wait "until the situation gets resolved" because you can't solve this huge problem (that has existed for centuries) over the summer by simply not playing the game. In any case, it seems that most players will in fact play.

 

Neither. I think he's saying Lebron is a leader in BLM and racial equality, therefore if he thinks it's OK, then it's probably OK. Lebron was talking about racial equality long before the latest incident. He's been doing what everyone else is just starting to do for a long time.