Jazz Players Question NBA Bubble Return Plan

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz players took to Twitter to question the NBA’s controversial return plan. As the league prepares to recall players to their host cities, new concerns have emerged about the safety and optics of resuming the season. At the forefront of the Jazz players’ tweets, safety within the NBA bubble environment.

Beginning July 9, the Jazz are scheduled to report for training camp in Orlando. Both Joe Ingles and Jordan Clarkson responded to reports of potential contamination points on Disney property.

A tweet from NBC’s Tom Haberstroh stated that Disney staff won’t be required to maintain the same safety protocol as players within the NBA’s bubble. That led to New Orleans Pelicans guard JJ Redick questioning the safety of the bubble.

“So… there isn’t a bubble,” Redick tweeted.

😂😂😂😂😂😂

— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) June 12, 2020

Ingles reacted with six laughing emojis. Later in the tweet thread, the Jazz guard poked fun at the league’s idea.

“Bubble with a couple holes in it,” Ingles tweeted.

Clarkson also found his way into the conversation. The Jazz sixth man responded to both Ingles and Redick, perplexed by Haberstroh’s information.

“Very confused at this point…..” Clarkson tweeted.

In a later post, Clarkson retweeted Haberstroh with a gif of celebrity Ice Cube rolling his eyes over the news.

https://t.co/D6nQUxy7Ze pic.twitter.com/bEJ3nLyJ6j

— Jordan Clarkson (@JordanClarksons) June 12, 2020

Practice Protocol

Fans were offered a rare glimpse inside the Jazz Zions Bank Basketball Campus thanks to forward Jarrell Brantley. Brantley shared a video on his Instagram story of guard Miye Oni working on his ball-handling skills.

In the video, Oni is seen working with a member of the team’s training staff. While the Jazz guard isn’t wearing protective equipment, his assigned trainer has a mask and gloves on. Furthermore, the trainer is maintaining distance from Oni during the drill.

You can get a sense of the precautions @UtahJazz players face from Jarrell Brantley’s IG story. Training staff wearing masks and gloves, mainting social distancing. pic.twitter.com/9hhHfMALZ6

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) June 12, 2020

Currently, the NBA allows only four players in the facility at one time. Players can’t share one basket, while head coaches, top assistants, and front office members cannot aid in the workouts.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, coaches will soon be able to rejoin their players at practice.

“Beginning on June 23, a head coach can be one of the two coaches working with players in voluntary workouts, per sources.” Wojnarowski tweeted.

Beginning on June 23, a head coach can be one of the two coaches working with players in voluntary workouts, per sources. https://t.co/elRmBUra5t

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 12, 2020

Players Preparing to Return

NBA players must begin preparing to rejoin their teams in their host cities. By June 15, players who reside internationally must return to their teams. By June 22, all stateside players must be back with their team.

Clarkson, Donovan Mitchell, and Mike Conley have been out of state during the NBA’s hiatus. According to Conley’s wife, the Jazz guard is preparing to return to Utah.

“This is our last night at home in Ohio with the four of us,” Mary Conley said in an Instagram story. “Because we go on our trip, then Mike has to go back to Utah. Then he has to go back to Orlando if it goes through, and we’re not allowed to be there.”

Conley cut his hair off 👀 pic.twitter.com/dyPdoZLCIi

— Bridget ☾ (@bridgetmhull) June 12, 2020

NBA families will be able to join the players in Orlando after the first round of the playoffs is complete.  Players will travel to Orlando on July 9, but families wouldn’t be welcomed back into the NBA bubble until August 30. Conley and his wife are expecting their third child later this year.