NBA Releases Information And Protocols For Orlando ‘Bubble’ Site

The league issued a 100-page safety plan to the 22 teams that will be traveling to the Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World Resort

As June crawls closer to July, the National Basketball Association has shared its safety protocols and plans for the ‘bubble’ site at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

The plan was shared on Tuesday afternoon, having over 100 pages of safety information, game-day schedules and guidelines for players to follow during the resumption of the 2019-20 season. Players will be traveling back to their respective teams next week to begin the process of getting back into basketball shape.

Players that choose to stay home and opt to end their seasons will not be punished, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.

Sources: NBA players have been notified: "Any player who exercises this right will not be disciplined." https://t.co/016UlUWYdE

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020

Those who wish to stay home from Orlando must notify their teams by Wednesday, June 24th.

Along with a bevy of safety protocols and precautions, the NBA has split the 22 teams into three different hotel-resorts on the Walt Disney World campus. The teams were placed in each hotel according seedings in the current NBA standings.

Sources: NBA teams Disney hotels based on seeding:

-Grand Destino: Bucks, Lakers, Raptors, Clippers, Celtics, Nuggets, Jazz, Heat
-Grand Floridian: Thunder, 76ers, Rockets, Pacers, Mavericks, Nets, Grizzlies, Magic
-Yacht Club: Blazers, Kings, Pelicans, Spurs, Suns, Wizards

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020

For player entertainment, the league is providing an assortment of amenities for the players that will be traveling to Florida.

In NBA's ORL campus:

– Hotel amenities: players-only lounge (NBA 2K, TVs, gaming), pool/trails, barbers, manicurists, pedicurists
– 24-hour VIP concierge
– Daily entertainment: Movie screenings, DJ sets, video games, ping pong, pool, lawn games
– Players can attend other games

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020

On game-day, the league issued a schedule for each team to refer to when the season resumes.

Some interesting parts of the game-day schedule:

• No pregame media availability
• Post-game media availability: Virtual and limited in-person interviews
• Court access protocols
• Post-game meeting protocols (10-minutes maximum)
• Post game showers to take place at hotel, not at game site
• Player introductions will be pre-recorded

NBA referees will not be required to wear masks, per the report. Also included in the report is the protocol for the benches on game-day:

Sources: The NBA will have two rows on the bench:

– First row: players and coaches; no mask required, but recommended that coaches wear masks
– Second row: other players and coaches; must wear masks at all times (unless active player)

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2020

Each player and member of team personnel must agree to all rules and protocols in writing prior to their arrival.

Failure to comply with protocols subjects a player to potential discipline such as warning,
fine, suspension, and/or removal from the campus. https://t.co/Z36fdkOC7r

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2020

In the event of a positive test for coronavirus, Charania shared what the NBA plans to do if someone is infected:

NBA protocol for positive coronavirus test result:
– Enter immediate isolation/separate location — “Isolation Housing”
– Retest to confirm positive
– Exit isolation after consecutive negative tests and return to activities

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2020

Each team will play a series of warm-up games beginning on July 22nd. After the ‘pre-season’ ends, the regular season will begin on July 30th, one day earlier than the previously reported July 31st date.

Basketball is close to a return, but things will look quite different when the games resume in Orlando.

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