Podcast: The NBA return plan faces pushback. Concerns about the bubble and social activism
The NBA’s will-they-or-won’t-they flirtation with resuming the current season amid the COVID-19 pandemic took another turn during the weekend. One group of players is concerned about playing games while the world is still protesting police brutality and systemic racism. Another group is concerned with being isolated for two months or more at Walt Disney World. There’s even another group, which includes Miami Heat post player Bam Adebayo, concerned about the injury risks associated with returning to meaningful games so quickly after such a long layoff.
It’s a lot to sort through, but let the Heat Check podcast take you through all the concerns players are weighing as the league moves toward wrapping up the season in Lake Buena Vista. David Wilson and Anthony Chiang, the Miami Herald’s Heat beat writer, hit on everything which has happened since the last time we recorded.
For a minute there, the season appeared to be in real jeopardy after Kyrie Irving led a 100-player video chat Friday and expressed concern with potentially distracting from the George Floyd protests, which are still taking place across the country. What changed since then? We are feeling confident once again as the NBA is moving toward addressing these concerns.
The bigger challenge, ultimately, might be getting players on board with spending months on end in Central Florida. Chiang got his hands on a copy of the NBA’s 113-page safety plan and runs through some of his favorite details, including an extremely cautious approach to card games. We also give our recommendations of what rides and attractions to check out at Disney World if the park opens up to players.
There’s also the concerns from players such as Adebayo, who are due for a massive contract extension sometime soon. The NBA needs to find some way to appease the All-Star and the rest of his cohort, too.
Of course, there’s always the lingering concern around the coronavirus itself. Cases are on the rise across Florida and in Orange County. How much of a concern should this be to the league as it prepares to send teams to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in less than a month?
If we have learned anything in the last few months, it’s to have a plan, but always be ready for those plans to change.
