The NBA in a fairytale bubble at Disney World, near Orlando, to end its season? Maybe. In any case, it takes shape. And we are now far beyond the rumor stage. The powerful North American basketball league confirms this Saturday, through its spokesman Mike Bass, to have started "discussions with The Walt Disney Company on the restart of the 2019-2020 NBA season in late July at Disney's Florida Wide World of Sports ESPN complex. " The said Mike Bass also specifies that the players' union (NBPA) is associated with these conversations. And we know that the players are generally rather favorable to a resumption of the season. In any case, LeBron James, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry and several of the Association's biggest stars intend to weigh in to avoid the cancellation of the 2019-20 fiscal year.
The following is a statement from NBA Chief Communications Officer Mike Bass: pic.twitter.com/8gfK5iVXs8
- NBA (@NBA) May 23, 2020With three rooms and XXL hotel capacities, this site has many advantages. Especially since Florida has been less severely affected than other states by the coronavirus, which has killed more than 95,000 people on American soil. The players would thus have all the leisure to train, play and simply live in this "bubble", by limiting as much as possible the risk of being in close or distant contact with the virus. Recall that there may have been talk of a recovery in mid-July. Apparently, it would be rather late July. It will in any case be necessary to count on several weeks of training so that the players regain a physical condition worthy of the name after several weeks away from the floors.
Everyone in Orlando, no second bubble in Las Vegas
Interestingly, the Florida leisure complex would be, if necessary, the only site used by the NBA. In recent hours, we have raised the hypothesis of two "bubbles", with for example a part of the clubs in Orlando, and another on the Las Vegas side. And Mr. Bass to continue: "Our priority continues to be the health and safety of everyone involved, and we are working with public health experts and government officials on a comprehensive set of guidelines to ensure that appropriate medical protocols and protections are in place. ” Coronavirus forces, the regular season has been stopped since March 11. Adam Silver, who has not yet spoken directly about this Orlando takeover project, had suspended activities after Rudy Gobert's positive diagnosis.
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