August 16 (UPI) – Utah Jazz veteran point guard Mike Conley has the NBA bubble in Orlando, Fla. Left, before the birth of his son, the team announced Sunday.
The Jazz said in a statement that Conley went to Orlando Sunday morning and returned to Columbus, Ohio. According to ESPN, the former guard of Memphis Grizzlies plans to participate in the playoffs at Utah at some point.
“The whole organization – the players, coaches and everyone here – fully supports his decision to be with his wife and his new baby,” said Jazz forward Joe Ingles. “Of course he’s a big part of our team. Every time Mary and Mike feel comfortable that it’s the right time for him to come back, of course we bring him in with open arms.
“But until then, it’s one of those things that’s bigger than basketball. Right now, priority is No. 1 priority. No.
Under the league’s COVID-19 policy, Conley will be required to be quarantined for at least four days after returning to the bubble, meaning he will play at least the first two games of the Jazz’s first-round series. miss against the Denver Nuggets.
Later Sunday, Conley posted a photo of his newborn son – named Elijah Michael Conley – on social media.
Since restarting the NBA, Conley has averaged 18 points, five assists and three rebounds in six appearances.
Conley becomes the second prominent athlete in all major American professional sports leagues to leave his respective team before the start of the postseason game or during the playoffs. On Saturday, Boston Bruins star Tuukka Rask decided to opt for the Stanley Cup playoffs due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Rask made his decision less than two hours before the Bruins’ 3-1 victory in Game 3 of their quarterfinal series against the Carolina Hurricanes. Veteran Jaroslav Halak started in his place and placed a .967 saving percentage in the win.
“I want to play with my teammates, but right now there are things more important than hockey in my life, and that’s with my family,” Rask said in a statement Saturday. “I want to thank the Bruins and my teammates for their support and wish them success.”
The Bruins – just like the Jazz – will now be forced to compete in the postseason without a significant member of their team. Conley will be allowed to return to the team if he so chooses, but will likely miss at least two games due to COVID-19 protocols and the mandatory quarantine period.
According to the rules and protocols made by the NHL and the players’ union, Rask will also be eligible to return to his team if he changes his mind.
Bruins head coach Bruce Cassidy said Sunday that he has not spoken directly to his nether man and is not sure if he can return to the club in the offseason.
“Should circumstances change where he feels he can return to the club, I think we will cross that bridge when we get in there,” Cassidy said. “The NHL is fine with that. That’s how we would handle that.”
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