MIAMI (AFP) – NBA players have started arriving in Orlando to face life in the league’s “bubble” at Walt Disney World ahead of Thursday’s start of training camp workouts.
Airplane-style food trays have brought mixed reviews as 22 teams prepare to restart a 2019-20 season that was shut down March 11 when Utah’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.
Players are tested for coronavirus upon arrival at the quarantined zone designed to prevent outbreaks even as Florida becomes one of the latest US epicenters of the deadly virus.
They must pass another test at least 24 hours later to leave isolation, and partake of hotel restaurants with more than pre-packaged offerings.
“No way Bron eating this. LOL,” tweeted Los Angeles Clippers guard Isaiah Thomas, hinting that LA Lakers superstar LeBron James would have a superior menu when his team arrived Thursday.
“Food is actually a lot better than what I expected,” tweeted Orlando Magic swingman Evan Fournier. The Frenchman also offered a quick tour of his typical-looking hotel room on social media, complete with a balcony.
Teams can begin training camp workouts once they have completed bubble arrival quarantine. Teams will start to scrimmage each other on July 22 ahead of the planned July 30 restart.
Some players have been outspoken in their lack of confidence in the NBA bubble plan, which was assembled in consultation with the players union and medical experts as well as local and state officials.
”I don’t like the idea,” Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid said. ”I still don’t believe in it and I don’t think it’s going to be safe enough.”
The Cameroonian center said he considered not playing but did not want to let down his teammates as they try to capture an NBA title.
”You don’t want to be in a situation where you put your life at risk and all that stuff for just what, the money?” he said. ”At the end of the day, basketball is not all that matters.”
Embiid had little confidence every player on every team would follow all of the restrictions needed to safeguard everyone in the bubble environment from the virus.
”I know I’m going to do the right things,” he said. ”But then again, I don’t trust those other guys.”
Portland’s Damian Lillard expressed similar feelings last week.
”My confidence ain’t great,” he said. ”You’re going to have 22 teams full of players following all the rules? When we have 100% freedom everybody don’t follow all the rules.
”I don’t have much confidence but hopefully it will be handled to a point where
MILLS DONATES $1 M
In Miami, San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills said Wednesday he will donate his salary from eight upcoming NBA games – more than $1 million – to social justice organizations in his homeland.
The 31-year-old Australian standout, who helped the Spurs capture the 2014 NBA crown, said in a social media video his salary for the club’s eight scheduled games in the COVID-19 protected Orlando bubble will go to Black Lives Matter groups.
“I’ve made the decision to go to Orlando,’ Mills said.
”And I’m proud to say that I’m taking every cent earned from these eight games that we’re playing – which for me will turn out to be $1,017,818.54 – and donating that directly back to the Black Lives Matter Australia, Black Deaths in Custody and to a recent campaign that’s called ‘We Got You’ dedicated to ending racism in sport in Australia.”
Mills has been active in social justice movements during his 11 NBA seasons and said the chance to help the causes influenced his decision to play in Orlando, where 22 teams will gather at Walt Disney World in an environment safeguarded from COVID-19.
