Heat forward Udonis Haslem doesn’t believe that forcing players to live under quarantine conditions in a “bubble” city will result in a good product, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun-Sentinel.
Creating an isolated environment, likely in Las Vegas or Orlando, has been a prominent plan as the NBA searches for ways to safely resume its season. However, NBPA executive director Michele Roberts recently questioned what it would take to enforce those conditions, saying it sounds like “incarceration.” Haslem echoes those comments, stating that players need “outlets” beyond just the game or it will result in “bad basketball.”
“There’s a lot that goes on to prepare for a season mentally,” he said. “There’s a lot that goes into going out there and performing at a high level every night, and especially when you put yourself in a playoff atmosphere. I was one of those guys who’s always needed different outlets, for my mental health. So just moving forward, if that is something that we’re going to do, you just hope that both the league and the Players’ Association are smart about making sure we have different outlets, as far not just letting us out to play games and then locking us back up in the hotel, in quarantine.”
Commissioner Adam Silver has responded to those concerned about a bubble, suggesting players could be placed in more of a “campus” setting. Teams would stay at a central location where games would take place, but the players would be able to leave the site and would get a COVID-19 test when they return.
Even under those conditions, players face the possibility of being isolated from their families for two months or more, depending on how much of the regular season gets played before the playoffs begin. That would be unprecedented even for a veteran like Haslem, who is in his 17th NBA season and 18th in professional basketball.
“I’ve never been away from my family for that long,” he said. “Obviously, back in the day, when we would take the West Coast trips with the Big Three, when LeBron (James) first got here, it felt like a month. But, no, never, not even with my travels to Europe, away from the family, have I been away that long. So it will be tough. It will be definitely tough for a lot of us.”
Sounds alot like the mind set of a loser or best, someone not interested in playing for a Championship.
It’s certainly not any harder than a 2 foot putt in the overall scheme of things.
If it’s turely that big a burden on a player, family and friends, then stay home.
Just quit whining about it.
Udonis Haslem has 3 championships. He got them by doing exactly what it takes. Haslem defined the culture for the Heat during their championship runs. He hustled, defended and rebounded his ass off. He did all the little things so the stars like Wade and James could get all the accolades. His mindset has always been “I’ll do whatever just give me a ring.”
Three NBA champions, sure. However, skip tampa has internet access and a laptop so clearly he know more about winning in the NBA!
Udonis Haslem has three championships because he happened to be on teams that had James/Wade/Bosh and Wade/Shaq. You could swap him out with many, many other bigs from those seasons and the Heat still win the Championship.
Excuses already really. So many people easily going into this conditioning process of theirs.
First they complain about travel and being too tired to play back to backs because of the travel. Well there’s no travel now and they now complain about not being able to travel.
Guarantee people commenting havent even played ball before. Like why cant a player a give his honest perspective without ppl bashing him. If this is his opinion then it is what is it. Its not like udonis Haslam determines whether they play or not.
If he wants to give his opinion. People have the right to express their opinions as well.
Yes, but Haslem’s is informed these people are just keyboard geniuses.
What does playing ball have to do with it, nothing.
It’s about life, job and signed Pro Contract.
UD is entitled to his opinion, which he gives freely and often.
He’s also free to stay home if that’s what he wants.
Just stop whining about it being an Earth shattering event for all involved.
It absolutely is not.
I’m trying to be understanding but it’s really pushing the boundaries of reason. I love -LOVE- sports. But I’m not sure that I enjoy the people that play them anymore. And I certainly don’t like the microscope that they’re placed under. It’s too much. It sucks all the joy out of rooting for a jersey. I don’t know, maybe I’ve just turned into a cranky old man but I miss the innocence of just watching a game without all the commentary.
The comparison to “incarceration” is outrageous. What part of being in prison includes having access to your friends, family, fine food, posh accommodations, personal assistants, high speed internet, entertainment, alcohol and any other thing you could possibly buy?
These dudes live an extremely privileged life and now they want to say that this proposal (which will create some temporary inconveniences but will likely stave off force majeure and allow them to be paid) is like being in prison.
This ridiculous exaggeration weakens their position and makes them seem soft and spoiled. Few of these men would last a minute if they were actually incarcerated.
You really don’t think that the 6’6″ 250 pound men wouldn’t last a minute in prison? How big do you think the guys in prison actually are? I’d be willing to bet that just about anyone in the NBA would last longer in prison than you would.
I’m not whining about luxury and crying into my huge pile of money and comparing my own situation to incarceration, so there’s no need for a comparison.
It doesn’t matter how big a body is if the spirit is soft.
Also, you might want to do some some reading on logical fallacies – it’ll help.
Comparing any employment related situation to incarceration is mindless. More like an Olympic village (which NBA players also objected to), or – outside of sports – a ex-pat development. The players’ union is a party here, but, to date, they’ve just punted saying it’s up to the adults (Silver, et. al.) to make things “safe” (whatever that means to them).
I don’t think a bubble is necessary, but if the players want to play without it (or any quarantine restrictions), then they have to assume the additional risk. It isn’t great, and with precautions, can be quite minimal. But either way, step up and take some ownership of your situation.
He doesn’t even play so why does his opinion matter for what the actual players do? Hes basically an overpaid assistant to an assistant coach at this point.
Maybe it will take two tournaments… one, teams that want it safe, and the second, teams that want it normal and with additional risk. Or it could be divided by married with kids or bachelor. Play it out, then the winners meet in a safe environment.
… Problem is, teams will not divide cleanly into categories… except maybe for happy or mad when a compromise is the rule. It would be too hard to do that way for 19/20, which has already started. Maybe something can be done in that way for 20/21, which will start late, but have similar societal conditions.
Haslem was either nominated to speak for the un-represented-so-far, or he has aged out of this racket. Not that he’s wrong, but it’s time to move on.
Once again cry baby millionairs won’t do their jobs unless given special privelages. Nobody can do anything social right now, and this cry baby millionaire needs “outlets for his mental health”? How about all of us still working and have no “outlet”. You play a game with a ball for millions of dollars. You don’t know what real stress is.
This season is over. No championship from this year will be regarded as such. What player is going to celebrate winning this year? They will get laughed out of the building.
They will not get laughed out of the building. There will be no one in the building to laugh at them.
This just sounds like he’s hinting at weed and strip clubs
Well somebody has to