- Alex Fernandez and Joshua Sugarman
The 2019-2020 NBA season is finally over. After a long, emotional road, the Los Angeles Lakers are champions for the 17th time. Yet, as we cheer on the likes of Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and J.R. Smith, another thing is worthy of praise: the NBA bubble.
When Rudy Gobert first tested positive for COVID-19 in March, the NBA was put on indefinite pause. Fans yearned for players to resume competition, but in a way that did not put the players at risk. The organization came up with the rather simple but ingenious idea of a bubble. The bubble, situated in Orlando, would be isolated and safely monitored. When players and staff arrived in late June to early July, some players opted out, as nobody was mandated to attend. Players had the freedom to leave anytime they wanted but would be forced to self-isolate and partake in various coronavirus testings upon return. Lou Williams, a point guard on the Los Angeles Clippers, broke the bubble rules for personal reasons and had to quarantine when he got back. This was the only example of “broken rules” throughout the three-month tenure. Others, like Utah Jazz point guard Mike Conley, left for his child's birth but was back in a few days, quarantined and tested, and eventually allowed to resume play. Players were also required or at least encouraged to wear masks whenever possible in hopes of reducing any possible spread of the virus. These rules, in addition to regular and efficient testing, were all imperative for the success of the NBA bubble. From sanitizing basketballs to referee whistles, the architects of the bubble did everything they could to keep the players safe and secure. Players would have their own “bubble” food delivered to them and would have to find ways to spend their free time in between games. Whether it be playing video games with teammates, learning how to swim, as Boston Celtics center Tacko Fall did, or enjoying the Florida sun on a lounge chair, players had ample opportunities to enjoy the privileges of the bubble. The atmosphere was described as a “summer camp feel” or resort-Esque by Lakers reporter Tania Ganguli.
However, the NBA managed to confront something other than the virus this summer. Nobody will forget this bubble and the Lakers being crowned champions once again, but perhaps this season will be best remembered for the courageous acts of the players and the NBA to use their platform in efforts to combat police brutality and racial inequities. With all of the racial turmoil and unjust shootings of black people in this country, the NBA decided to use their platform to speak out. After the killing of George Floyd, many NBA players like Jaylen Brown and Russell Westbrook took part in peaceful protests against police brutality. Through spreading messages like “Black Lives Matter” on t-shirts, courts, and busses to help amplify the voice of the organization, the NBA made the message loud and clear. Each player was also allowed to put personal social justice slogans on their jerseys instead of their name, which further emphasized the need for unity and sparked conversations surrounding communal change. International players even put messages in their native languages, which further highlighted that all members of the NBA were passionate about the cause and were comfortable using their voices and names to foster change and encourage reformed legislation. After Jacob Blake, another unarmed black man was killed, the Milwaukee Bucks started a protest in which they boycotted one NBA playoff game in late August. Consequently, all the other teams sat out as a form of protest and the players took a three-day hiatus from play before voting on whether or not to continue the playoffs. Ultimately, the majority of teams decided to continue play, and players and staff alike began to focus heavily on combating voter suppression and using NBA stadiums as polling stations to motivate individuals to exercise their right to vote.
This season, the NBA did a wonderful job of adapting to the COVID pandemic by keeping the players and staff safe in addition to combating systemic racism and police brutality in America. As Lebron James said best,
“It’s been unbelievable. Adam [Silver], everyone from the NBA, NBPA, putting this thing together and us using our voices, us being together – you hear Golden State always use the phrase ‘strength in numbers.’ And that’s exactly what it was while we were here.”
Komentáře