NBA during

NBA During COVID

story/A.Ahmed

There is a dangerous virus going around. You are stuck at home. Everything is getting cancelled left and right. All you can do is spend extra time with your family members. Every major sports league has suspended their respective seasons. The future of sports is looking bleak. That is until the NBA came back on July 30 and saved everyone from eternal boredom.

“Spent a lot of time with immediate family. We have a big family at home so was able to spend time with different people individually and the whole group at times. I also worked, exercised, and some reading,” East head basketball coach Chad Ryan said.

On March 11, the NBA announced the postponement of the 2019-20 season at once when Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. Officials promptly canceled the Wednesday night game against the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder. Fans around the world were devastated but could understand the prudence of the NBA.

“I remember the night the Thunder and Jazz game was called off right before the start of the As professional leagues struggle to stay afloat, there has been widespread praise for the NBA’s handling of its season. Not only bringing entertainment but a sense of normalcy during a major Pandemic

game. I was thinking how crazy that seemed at the time,” Ryan said.

On June 4, the NBA’s Board of Governers approved a new competitive format for the return of the season. The NBA figured if they could isolate their players, coaches, and league personnel from the rest of the world, the season could be resumed. They named it the NBA Bubble.

“I was hopeful the bubble would work, again I was curious about the dynamics of the bubble. Overall, I thought that it would work if protocols were followed,” Ryan said. 22 NBA teams were invited to finish the regular season. Each team played eight seeding games to decide which 16 teams would face off in the playoffs. The Phoenix Suns had the most success in the bubble not even losing a single game but with the worst record heading into the bubble, they fell short of making the playoffs. With all 16 teams decided, it was time for the playoffs.

“I was happy and excited to see my favorite player Ja Morant play even though his team didn’t make it far in the bubble,” East student

Timeline: The NBA Bubble

Mikele Berhane said.

The NBA’s strict health and safety protocols have worked immaculately without a single player testing positive for COVID-19 and without a single game being affected by the virus. The NBA has rigorously enforced its health and safety protocols going as far as to kick out Housten Rockets forward Danuel House Jr for bringing an unauthorized guest to his hotel room.

“When I heard that there hasn’t been anyone that got COVID while in the bubble, I was kind of surprised because I didn’t think it could happen,” Berhane said.

No one thought it was possible, but the NBA went against all odds and made it possible. The NBA restart made headlines for being one of the few good things to happen in this unprecedented year of 2020. NBA fans were delighted after hearing the news because it meant they could resume watching their favorite team or player.

“I believe it has given people including myself hope that sports can happen and will happen during this time. It has been fun and a sense of normalcy to be able to watch and follow some games,” Ryan said.