NBA Returns On December 22nd Without The Protection Of The Bubble

As the Coronavirus pandemic continues to affect a majority of the world's population, it is the United States that has continued to set records for not only the number of cases but also the number of deaths that they are experiencing at the hands of the pandemic. With this being said, however, the NBA is set to make a return to the League on the 22nd of December without the protection of the Disney Bubble they had back in the summer.

The 2019/20 NBA Season

Much like the rest of the sporting world, the NBA was majorly disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic that made its way across the globe back in March. With cases rising and a rising death toll to match, the NBA made the executive decision to cease play on the 12th of November after some of the players begun to test positive for Covid-19. This was one of the first sports in the USA to do this seeing a huge upset for the fans as well as those playing in the league.

The Effects Of Covid-19 On The Sport

However, as the months in lockdown continued, so to did the effect of Coronavirus on the rest of the world. The number of cases and deaths in the USA were both rising and questions begun to circulate about whether or not the sport would be able to return in a safe environment for the players. Despite the want for audiences to be able to return to the games safely, the NBA soon realised that attendees in the stand were not an option at this stage. However, having a Bubble formed for the players to isolate, could mean a return to play for the players without exposing them to the virus.

The Protection of The Disney Bubble

With huge sporting facilities and hotels on-site, the NBA joined forces with Walt Disney World in Orlando to form a bubble. This allowed all the teams to practice, play and isolate away from others to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. It is this bubble that saw the season return on July 30th. This was a huge benefit for not only the sport itself as a result of lost revenue but also the fans that were now able to watch some of their favourite sports once again whilst isolating at home. This, of course, meant a surge for the sports betting industry in the United States also that has hit a slump in 2020 as a result of the lack of sporting events. With a total of $2.1 billion wagered in August alone, this was a hide single-month record for the sportsbooks as several betting sites saw an increase in the number of users as a result of the return of live sporting events.

NBA Superstars Drop Out

Despite the return to the league, however, some NBA superstars did not return to the pitch when the season restarted. Whether this was as a result of their own health or health of a family member, superstars such as Avery Bradley, Davis Bertans, Spencer Dinwiddie and many others opted out of the return to the league. Despite this, the league still went on as planned with the Los Angeles Lakers winning their first championship title in 10 years against Miami Heat with a 4-2 win.

The NBA 2020/21 Season

Despite the pandemic still being ongoing, the NBA has decided upon a December exit from the Disney Bubble with the season return as it normally would. With zero outbreaks during the summer due to the success of the Bubble system at the Orlando Disney Resort, there are several fans as well as experts that are concerned as to how they will pull the league off without the use of this same system. However, the NBA has announced an extensive list of Covid Protocols to keep everyone as safe as possible with the resumption of the league, but will this be enough?

With this being said, the need for the improved security as the total number of cases in the US continues to break records, could we see the NBA be able to make it through a whole league or do you believe there will likely be disruptions as a result?

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes