Utah Jazz Center Rudy Gobert Says Anonymous Hotline For Reporting NBA Bubble Violations Is ‘Petty’

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert said that he’s unsure if anyone will use the NBA’s anonymous hotline to report violations of the league’s bubble restriction and believes the hotline is “sort of petty.”

Currently, Gobert and the Jazz are inside the league’s “bubble environment” at Disney World in Orlando, Florida as they prepare for the return of the 2019-20 NBA season on July 30.

“I don’t know if someone’s gonna use it, but I think it’s sort of petty,” Gobert told the media during a conference call on July 14. “At the same time, you want to make sure that people respect the rules.”

On March 11, Gobert became the first NBA to test positive for the coronavirus disease, COVID-19. In late June, the Jazz center said that he had not fully recovered from COVID-19 and cited his sense of smell as less than 100 percent.

“I don’t think the line will really help at that point. I think it’s more about respecting each other and all do it as a small community,” Gobert continued. “Everyone is pretty much educated about the virus at this point and it’s more about respect. At the same time, you want to make sure you socialize and do all those things, but still respecting each other’s space and try to wear the mask inside, especially when it’s crowded.”

Rudy Gobert responds to question about the anonymous hotline and if he’ll use it. pic.twitter.com/pkpOtD09NC

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) July 15, 2020

So far the NBA has already enforced penalties on players who’ve violated the bubble’s rules and restrictions.

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Beasley tested positive for the virus and had to leave the Orlando bubble, according to multiple reports.

Sacramento Kings center Richaun Holmes left the bubble to pick up a food delivery and is currently in the middle of a 10-day quarantine. Houston Rockets forward Bruno Caboclo also went outside of the league’s restricted area and is being isolated for the same period of time.

“At this point, I think we’ve all been through enough meetings, each team individually, about the coronavirus and understanding the importance of practicing social distancing and wearing a mask and all those things,” Jazz guard Mike Conley told reporters on July 14. “We’ve got to trust each other. We’ve got to trust the other teams. The other players. We know our guys are gonna do the right thing and kind of just trust the process.”

Starting on July 30, 22 NBA teams, including the Jazz, will finish the 2019-20 regular season with an eight-game schedule. After that, 16 teams (eight from each conference) will start the NBA Playoffs.

The games will be played at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and no fans will be in attendance.

Gobert, Conley, and the rest of the Jazz roster will restart the season against the New Orleans Pelicans on July 30 at 4:30 p.m (MDT). The game will be televised on TNT and AT&T SportsNet.