With rising COVID-19 cases, players out for long periods in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, games played with just eight or nine players on a team and a growing number of game postponements, it’s clear the league needs to make a change with how it is conducting a season in the midst of a pandemic.
It’s also clear the financial exigencies are making it a tough choice for the NBA and National Basketball Players Association, with a return to a full bubble environment a non-starter, and stricter protocols a tough sell to players. Expanding rosters for G League players won’t do much to boost the quality of play, but could at least help a bit — but what about a series of shorter-term mini-bubbles?
Sports Illustrated’s Chris Mannix and Rohan Nadkarni join former NBAer Alexis Ajinca to talk about these potential options for the league to get through what is likely going to be the worst days of the pandemic, and which — if any — might work best.
Watch the video embedded above for yourself to hear some creative ideas for addressing a growing problem for the NBA in recent days.
