The NBA, ESPN, Disney, and everybody involved in the Orlando bubble are just doing an outstanding job keeping the players safe for the resumption of the season. They’re providing – almost – everything they need ahead of the restart of the season.
Most players were sold on the idea of playing inside the bubble for three months. However, it seems now that there’s a possibility of them having to endure even more time in isolation, as the 2020-21 season could also be played in a bubble, according to recent reports:
“If tomorrow looks like today, I don’t know how we say we can do it differently… So it may be that, if the bubble is the way to play, then that is likely gonna be the way we play next season if things remain as they are” – NPBA executive director Michele Roberts told ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, as quoted by Sideline Sources.
There’s still not a vaccine for the novel coronavirus and the overall picture in the United States isn’t encouraging whatsoever. If the NBA intends to keep its timeline and schedule, it’s unlikely that they’ll be able to do it unless players are isolated.
More NCAA, NFL, and MLB players are testing positive by the day and some are just deciding to opt-out for their seasons due to health and family concerns.
Even so, it’ll be extremely tricky to convince NBA players to leave their family for 6+ months and isolate for the season, especially when struggling teams start to slide in the standings and don’t have many incentives to stay there.
That decision will also likely depend on whether this experiment continues to be as successful as it’s been thus far. What’s almost certain is that no fans will be allowed in games, at least, for the foreseeable future. Hopefully, things will change for the better rather sooner than later.
