Boston Celtics forward Gordon Hayward and his wife Robyn are expecting their fourth child this fall. If the Celtics are still in contention when Robyn goes into labor, Hayward already knows without question that he will leave the NBA bubble to be there.
Hayward will leave bubble
Hayward told reporters on Friday via ESPN:
“There will be a time when we are there and she is going to have the baby, I am sure I will be with her. We will have to cross that bridge when we get there. “
“It’s a pretty easy decision for me about that,” said Hayward. “I have been at the birth of each of my children, and I think there are more important things in life. So we will cross that bridge when we get there.”
“I know the NBA has a protocol for that sort of thing, and I hope I can quarantine and test the appropriate amount of time and then get back to the boys.”
The Haywards have three young daughters and Robyn has her fourth son in September, when the conference semifinals and finals are scheduled to be played. The conference semifinals are scheduled to begin no later than August 30, while the Eastern Finals will begin no later than September 15.
The Celtics (43-21) are currently third in the Eastern Conference standings behind the Milwaukee Bucks (53-12) and Toronto Raptors (46-18).
NBA protocols for leaving the bubble
The NBA season will restart at Disney World later this month in a bubble designed to keep COVID-19 out. But there are established protocols for players to leave in an approved manner. They include the birth of a child and the death of a family member, among other things.
The quarantine period for an approved licensed player is four days, as long as that player has been gone for less than seven days and is negative for COVID-19 each day that he is not in the bubble. Any unapproved absence means a 10-day quarantine period.
NBA and MLB players face tough decisions
Professional athletes in all sports trying to return this month are making equally difficult decisions. Utah Jazz star Mike Conley’s wife, Mary, will give birth on August 27. Conley said he was headed to Florida, but it was a difficult decision. Through the Salt Lake grandstand:
“Yes, it was hard. I’m going to be in a bubble, but if I go to see my baby, I will be quarantined again and possibly have to lose a game or whatever situation we are in today. to be inside. There are many things that come into play. “
A handful of MLB stars also have partners expecting kids this summer, including Los Angeles Angels center fielder Mike Trout. Trout told reporters on Friday that he still doesn’t feel so comfortable coming back and that he is incredibly cautious in practices to avoid infecting his wife with COVID-19. He is still unsure if he will play in the MLB season, which is not going to be in a bubble, and he wore a mask while running the bases on Friday.
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