The NBA “bubble” in Orlando is unlike anything players have experienced since entering the league.
Just ask the players.
Players from 22 NBA teams are kidnapped from the Walt Disney World campus, where they will play eight “seed” games before 16 clubs face off in a high-risk postseason.
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That setup is a far cry from typical NBA life, where teams make brief pit stops in other cities and hardly ever see their opponents out of the box.
In an interview with Bleacher Report’s Taylor Rooks, Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker highlighted the novelty of “bubble” life by describing a random encounter he and Jayson Tatum had with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron. James.
Kemba Walker talks about the experience of being around players like Bron in the NBA bubble. @TaylorRooks pic.twitter.com/ccFMdvsS3g
– Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 16, 2020
“Every time you go down, you will see someone,” Walker told Rooks. “Like, the other night, JT and I were walking to get some food and we saw ‘Bron. We saw’ Bron, JR (Smith), Jared Dudley and (Kyle) Kuz (ma).
“It is very rare to see ‘Bron walking alone and feeling comfortable. As if he was saying to someone who has probably not done that since he was nine years old: being able to be so comfortable just walking and not worrying about people approaching him and getting upset in asking for something.
“He’s regular now, you know? He’s not regular, but he can feel comfortable and walk comfortably, so I think he’s great.”
Walker makes a good point: The NBA bubble is restricted to players, coaches, team personnel and a handful of reporters, so league stars can roam freely without being overwhelmed by curious fans or passersby.
And as Walker noted, you’re likely to see a superstar like James strolling around the Disney campus as a backup like Dudley.
In that sense, the NBA bubble creates a level playing field where everyone shares the same experience off the court. How players adapt to that unique experience and make the most of the “bubble life” can go a long way in determining which teams are doing the deepest postseason runs.
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