The 22 NBA teams still in the running for the playoffs have relocated to Orlando and Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in anticipation of the restart of the NBA season. Below is some news surrounding the Orlando bubble.
Players Dislike Setup
Players are less than 24 hours into the isolation period in Orlando, and many have already begun to complain about the food situation. Many players are documenting their bubble experience on various social media accounts.
The players are posting photos of their food, comparing it to airplane food. Memphis Grizzlies guard Tyus Jones even documented his run-in with a dead cockroach in his residence.
The isolation period for the players presents a significant problem, given that they are located in a state where positive coronavirus cases have skyrocketed in the last month. The players have limited options available when it comes to dining until they have completed their quarantine.
However, once players clear quarantine, they will have open access to various restaurants that are located on campus, as well as the option to have food delivered directly to their hotel rooms. Players also have the option of requesting additional food by speaking with their team’s nutritionist.
NBA veteran Rajon Rondo has even gone are far as trashing his bubble accommodations at the Gran Destino Tower at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. Using social media, Rondo compared his hotel room to a Motel 6.
U.S. Senator Voices Opinion on Jerseys
U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, penned a letter to NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Friday voicing his opinion on the league’s policy on social injustice messages. The Senator emphasized those messages that specifically have to do with China and the support of military and law enforcement personnel across the country.
In the letter, Hawley states that Silver and the NBA have been depending on the league’s ties to the Chinese Communist Party. This suggestion is based on the fact that Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey tweeted in October his support for anti-government protestors in Hong Kong.
While Silver noted that Morey was entitled to freedom of speech, the fallout from the post caused numerous Chinese-based companies to pause or cancel sponsorships as well as games being pulled from viewing in China.
The root of Hawley’s rant is in the principle behind the expressions on the jersey. He believes that the league’s policy has crossed the line from freedom of speech and has fallen into the sanctioning of a specific political message.
Leonard On Way to Florida
LA Clippers star Kawhi Leonard was said to be en route to join his team Friday night. The star did not travel on the team charter Wednesday as he was dealing with a family matter.
Clippers head coach Doc Rivers also noted a few other teammates that did not make the initial trip earlier in the week would be arriving as well on Friday night. Any player arriving on their own must quarantine by themselves in Orlando for two days.
The Clippers closed their practice facility out of caution as it was reported on July 2 that a member of the team’s travel party had tested positive for the coronavirus.
One of the league’s favorites to win the title, the Clippers went 44-20 prior to the shutdown and are second in the Western Conference behind the Los Angeles Lakers.
