Several crucial players plan to leave the NBA’s bubble in the coming months due to childbirth, which could drastically increase adversity for their teams.
The NBA’s ‘bubble’ environment has its fair share of questions looming over it, the most apparent being if it could legitimately work. While it remains a mystery, for now, one thing for certain is that given the circumstances, this will be one of the most challenging championship quests in NBA history as teams face significant adversity.
Three, teams, in particular, will face a trying test when key players leave the bubble for the birth of their children in the middle of the restart, potentially in the postseason. Those three teams are the Boston Celtics, Utah Jazz, and Brooklyn Nets.
Starting with the Celtics, the three-seed in the East, they will be without Gordon Hayward at some point in September. His wife is due to give birth to their fourth child, and Hayward assured that he would not miss it, as he had been present for all three prior.
"“There’ll be a time if and when we’re down there and she’s going to have the baby, I’m for sure going to be with her,” Hayward said of his wife, Robyn. “We’ll have to cross that bridge when we get there. It’s a pretty easy decision for me on that.”"
Depending on when he leaves in September, the Boston Celtics could lose Hayward right in the middle of the playoffs, potentially even the NBA Finals, if they were to make it. The forwards 17.3 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game would not be easily replaceable, proposing a significant disadvantage for the Celtics.
The same goes for the Western Conference’s 4-seeded Utah Jazz, who will be without starting point guard Mike Conley as he plans to leave sometime in August. Conley had a down year with the Jazz, but with second-leading scorer Bojan Bogdanovic set to miss the restart after undergoing wrist surgery, Utah needs him to step up now more than ever. Losing another crucial piece for an unknown period of time would be a significant blow to their contending chances.
Conley understands the situation, and knowing his value to the team, hopes to be back as soon as possible.
"“I’m gonna be in a bubble, but yet if I leave to go see my baby born, I’m gonna be quarantined on the way back in, and possibly have to miss a game or whatever the situation is that we’ll currently be in.”"
Lastly, Garrett Temple of the 7-seeded Brooklyn Nets also plans to leave the bubble sometime in September but finds himself in a different situation that Hayward or Conley. The Nets will be without six players total when the NBA restarts, and losing another would be another detrimental loss, even if most are not giving this team a chance.
While it would be a significant feat for the Nets to be still playing in mid-September around when the Conference Finals take place, Temple assured he would step aside regardless.
"“I’m coming back to see my first child being born,” Temple said. “That’s not even in the question.”"
The protocol for these players states that is players notify both the team and the league is gone fewer than seven days and gets tested negative every day outside of the bubble, they will face a four-day quarantine as long as the negative tests remain consistent.
If these players can remain safe outside of the bubble and return healthy, then this issue might not hinder their team’s chances as drastically. Still, in this irregular scenario and given the severity of these circumstances, nothing should get taken lightly.