For about half a year now, NBA players have been gathering in Disney’s “The Bubble.” The Orlando Magic stadium has been hosting numerous basketball games, where fans can attend via Microsoft teams. But, is it still safe for players to interact, and touch each other without wearing a mask? More than 40 players tested positive for Covid – 19 within the first week of December! I personally think that the NBA should take a break from these basketball games, because it doesn’t seem safe.
The first reason why I think it isn’t safe for the NBA to play is because of the transfer of germs through physical contact. Basketball is a sport where everyone touches the same ball; that also is a way for Coronavirus to spread. When somebody touches a contaminated surface, and then their face, they are susceptible to getting the disease.
That could result in a COVID diagnosis of another basketball player who could spread it to other people without knowing. Players such as Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets contracted COVID back in March along with four other teammates.
The second reason why I think that the NBA shouldn’t play, is because the players are so close to each other and are not wearing a mask. Although the teams in the NBA play in the bubble, they still can spread the virus within their team. The World Health Organization (WHO), recommends that everybody who isn’t staying within 6 feet of each other to wear a mask.
The players in the NBA are staying about 2 inches away from each other, without even wearing a mask! Furthermore, even if they were wearing a mask, it would be hard for them to play wearing a plastic cover over their mouth for more than two hours!
The last, and final reason why I think the NBA shouldn’t play, is because nobody knows who could have the virus. The NBA players do not take blood tests every day. Symptoms for Covid 19 can show up as late as 5 – 6 days after initial contact. Somebody in the NBA could have the virus, and could potentially be spreading it around asymptomatically. In addition, the blood tests aren’t very accurate; 30 percent of the people who get tested with a blood test, test negative, but are actually positive.
In conclusion, I do not think that it is safe for the NBA to hold basketball games this season. Although we are going through tough times and need a little bit of entertainment, I think that basketball isn’t the sport. Even though the players are all staying within one place, I think that they should take more precautions, and definitely not play this season.
Credits and Citation:
Adams, J. (2020). NBA Virtual Fans: How Do You Sign Up to Attend Bubble Games? | Heavy.com. Retrieved 5 January 2021, from https://heavy.com/sports/2020/07/nba-virtual-fans-bubble-how-cost/
Kent, A. (2020). List of NBA Players to Test Positive for Coronavirus. Retrieved 5 January 2021, from https://www.slamonline.com/nba/nba-coronavirus-covid-list/
Foley, K. (2020). Where does the six-foot guideline for social distancing come from?. Retrieved 5 January 2021, from https://qz.com/1831100/where-does-the-six-feet-social-distancing-guideline-come-from/
Cruose, C. (2020). NBA Introduces Six Phases For Return. Retrieved 5 January 2021, from https://www.hoopsrumors.com/2020/06/nba-introduces-six-phases-for-return.html
Jackson, Wilton. “Report: 48 NBA Players Test Positive for COVID-19.” Sports Illustrated, Sports Illustrated, 2 Dec. 2020, www.si.com/nba/2020/12/02/nearly-50-nba-players-test-positive-for-covid-19.