This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
On May 8, 2020, the NBA's plan to resume the season by setting up a quarantined zone, also known as a 'bubble,' was met with skepticism by players.
NBA Players Association executive director Michele Roberts told ESPN that the idea had received support in principle, but players had concerns over how the zone would be policed to guarantee no contact with the outside world.
"When that one was first floated, there was some consternation," Roberts told ESPN. "Are we going to arm guards around the hotel? That sounds like incarceration to me."
Players were also concerned about the risks of coronavirus infection, even after a 28-day isolation period.
"We could do all that, and then what happens when one or two or 10 players test positive after that 28-day isolation? Do we shut it down?" Roberts said.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver had previously backed away from the idea after receiving negative feedback from players, and a conference call was scheduled to address concerns about how the league may resume.
The NBA has been in shutdown since the coronavirus pandemic brought sport to a standstill in mid-March, forcing the suspension or postponement of every professional league in North America.
