NBA Restart 2020: Update From The Bubble

Preparations towards the restart of the NBA 2019/2020 season are being finalized with the first game to hold less than three weeks from now.

Players have arrived at the bubble facility in Orlando, Florida, and are getting accustomed to life there. But settling down has not been easy for many of them, and they have taken to social media to voice their frustration on the state of things in their hotel.

Rajon Rondo of the Los Angeles Lakers posted a photo of his hotel room and compared it to a motel in the caption. The great irony is that the room looked very nice. The truth is that teams like Lakers, Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, and the Miami Heat are residents at the Grand Destino Hotel, which is the newest and, to an extent, the best hotel there in Disneyland Resort. So to complain about the rooms in such a hotel may not seem fair, and Rondo received some backlash for his post. Los Angeles Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell also complained of the food being served at the hotel.

But one player who seems unconcerned by all of the discomfort is MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak stated that he remembers his humble beginnings from a tiny apartment in Greece and does not mind the inconvenience he would experience these coming months.

Outside of that, one player who did not make it to the bubble is Houston Rockets’, Russell Westbrook. He shared a post on Instagram on Monday, stating that he took a test sometime last week, and his results just came in as positive. He would remain in quarantine till he tests negative to the virus then receive clearance to join his teammates in Orlando. Lakers’ Rondo would also not play for some weeks after he fractured his thumb on Sunday and would require surgery.

The Denver Nuggets may just have to resume their season without some key players in actions. Players like Nikola Jokic, Gary Harris, and Torrey Craig are yet to make it to the bubble, although they are expected to arrive once they are cleared to do so.

Training has begun in earnest as teams are trying to get in shape after the 4 months break as games would resume on July 31.

Written by: Leon Osamor