Adam Silver Taking Solace In ‘Closed Network’ Of NBA Walt Disney World Bubble As Florida Continues To Deal With Spike In Coronavirus Cases

Ron Gutterman
3 Min Read
Chris Nicoll-USA TODAY Sports

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has done an incredible job navigating the league through the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. He’s worked with the players, teams, public health officials and league executives to form a comprehensive plan for returning to play at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Part of the plan involves players remaining in a bubble for up to three months while being discouraged to leave. It was designed this way to ensure the safety of all players and team personnel.

Orlando was in part chosen because of the league’s relationship with Disney, and the viability of creating a safe and entertaining campus environment for players.

However, that has changed recently, with Florida seeing a statewide peak in coronavirus cases on Friday. Orange County, where Orlando is located, has the state’s fifth-largest number of cases. However, Silver is not overly concerned due to the environment the league has created.

“So beginning with the data, we looked at several different models, all based on the data we were seeing around us in society,” he explained.

“It was not our first choice to play on a closed campus, and I would say the data led us to ultimately conclude we needed to play on a closed campus under the protocols we’re talking about, obviously mandatory masking, no fans, contact tracing, aggressive testing, etc. So I think that’s where the data led us.

“In terms of choosing this location, it’s a fair question, whether if we were making this decision at this moment we would still choose Orlando, Florida. The only thing I’d say is because of the lead times, there is certainly an ebb and flow to this virus, and as I mentioned before, it’s on the rise in the majority of states in the United States right now, and my ultimate conclusion is that we can’t outrun the virus.

“This is what we’re going to be living with for the foreseeable future, which is why we designed the campus the way we did and so that we are —- it’s a closed network, and that while it’s not impermeable, we are in essence protected from cases around us. At least that’s the model. For those reasons we’re still very comfortable being in Orlando.”

Silver added the NBA is “closely monitoring” current conditions in Florida and are working with the stat’s Department of Health. He conceded the league theoretically could wind up making a change if conditions required such.

“We’re never going to say that there’s nothing that would cause us to change our plans,” Silver said.

Have you subscribed to our YouTube channel? It’s the best way to watch player interviews, exclusive coverage from events, participate in live shows, and more!

Ron Gutterman is a Washington State University alum from Anaheim, California, and is currently a Staff Writer for LakersNation.com, RamsNewsWire.com, and RaidersNewsWire.com. He is also the lead editor for AngelsNation.com. With Lakers Nation, Rams News Wire, Raiders News Wire, and Angels Nation, Ron assists in news, game coverage, analysis, and hot takes via his Twitter account, @rongutterman24. Without a doubt, Ron's favorite Laker, and favorite athlete of all time, is Kobe Bryant. Ron began watching basketball when he was 6 years old, in 2005, when Bryant was dragging the likes of Smush Parker and Ronny Turiaf to playoff spots. Ron's all time favorite Lakers moment was Bryant's final game when he dropped 60 points. While the Lakers beating the Celtics in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, as Metta World Peace hit the game clinching three, will always be a top option, Bryant's final night takes the cake. Contact: ron@mediumlargela.com
Exit mobile version