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The NBA enacted strict protocols in the bubble environment that it developed at the Walt Disney World Resort outside Orlando, Florida to try to keep players and staff safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.
That included creating an anonymous hotline to report people who break the rules, and it’s already being used, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium:
Shams Charania @ @ShamsCharania
Some players have received warnings of violations, sources said, as the league guarantees social distancing and mask protocols on campus. https://t.co/LSRX6cXWfP
On Monday Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported that the hotline had not yet been used.
On Tuesday, Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie called the hotline “snitch hotline” and advised players not to call while talking to Taylor Rooks of B / R:
Bleach report @ @Bleach report
“Don’t call the snitch hotline. Don’t cross the line to get Postmates.” Spencer Dinwiddie has a PSA for all his fellow NBA players 😂 (via @TaylorRooks) https://t.co/jPjQ7EFJZ6
Dinwiddie’s mention of not leaving the bubble to get a food delivery seemed to be a reference to Richaun Holmes of the Sacramento Kings, who was quarantined for 10 days after doing that:
Shams Charania @ @ShamsCharania
Kings center Richaun Holmes crossed the line from the Disney campus to pick up food at home and must be quarantined for 10 days (eight days left).
Richaun holmes @ @Rich_Holmes22
https://t.co/8OGZC7QArr
With players separated from friends and family during their stay in Florida, preventing them from leaving campus or finding a way to attract guests could be a challenge for the NBA.
For one thing, it’s hard to blame anyone with a case of cabin fever due to the circumstances of the league restart. On the other hand, breaking league protocols could expose a player and his teammates, coaches, and staff to the coronavirus.
The rape hotline is not the most elegant form of self-monitoring, especially if players are reluctant to use it, but it is a way of trying to protect as many people as possible.
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