Inside the NBA bubble — what the NBA's great experiment looks like and how they have avoided a COVID-19 outbreak

Meredith CashAug 21, 2020, 23:05 IST

The NBA has been remarkably successful in keeping players and staff safe inside its "bubble" — an isolated campus at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

The NBA faced an unprecedented situation when it resolved to continue its season and embark on the 2020 playoffs despite a raging pandemic.
The league has been remarkably successful in keeping players and staff safe inside its "bubble" — an isolated campus at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
Through an elaborate system of health protocols and a strict limit on exposure to those outside of the bubble, the NBA has not registered a positive COVID-19 case since the first round of testing July 7-13.
Here's an inside look at what's going on in the bubble and how the league has avoided a COVID-19 outbreak.

Welcome to the NBA bubble.

Toronto Raptors/Handout via REUTERS

After the NBA shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Commissioner Adam Silver and the rest of the league sought out a way to safely continue play.

Jae C. Hong/AP Images

At long last, they settled on restarting the season on a completely isolated campus at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

Kirby Lee/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

On July, 22 NBA teams — 16 squads in playoff position prior to the shutdown plus six teams who were still in the hunt — flocked to The Most Magical Place on Earth in pursuit of the league's most unique championship to date.

Players and staff for each team were assigned to hotels on Disney's campus, including The Yacht Club, The Gran Destino Tower, and The Grand Floridian (pictured).

REUTERS/Adrees Latif

Select members of the media, most of whom arrived after players and staff, were sequestered at Coronado Springs.

DANIEL SLIM/AFP via Getty Images

At first, everyone arriving at the bubble had to quarantine in their own hotel rooms.

The rooms looked quite luxurious from social media posts.

But some players were unimpressed with their new digs.

Likewise, there were some early concerns about food in the bubble.

But the culinary options have vastly improved over time.

And numerous players have made a habit of shipping their favorite wines into the bubble as well.

Once individuals returned two negative coronavirus tests, they were permitted to exit the strict quarantine that confined them to their hotel rooms.

But everyone was still subjected to daily COVID testing and regular symptom detection.

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

And players were also offered access to Oura rings, which can detect possible signs of COVID-19 before symptoms set in.

Lisa Eadicicco/Business Insider

In order to ensure social distancing measures are followed, everyone in the bubble wears a proximity alarm that sounds when they are within a six-foot radius of another individual for more than 10 seconds.

Surfaces and shared equipment were — and are — continually sanitized.

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Even still, campus residents were not allowed to leave the bubble.

Ashley Landis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Rare exceptions include family emergencies, weddings, the birth of a child, and necessary medical care off-site.

Matthew Hinton/AP Images

In the instances in which players have left the bubble, they've been forced to quarantine away from their teams until it's deemed safe for them to rejoin group activities.

Karen Pulfer Focht/AP Images

In the instances in which players have left the bubble, they've been forced to quarantine away from their teams until it's deemed safe for them to rejoin group activities.

And those who left without explicit permission were subjected to longer periods in isolation.

Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider

Like Sacramento Kings forward Richaun Holmes, who accidentally left the bubble to retrieve his Postmates order.

Getty/Lachlan Cunningham

Or Los Angeles Clippers sixth man Lou Williams, who notoriously stopped at Magic City strip club in Atlanta to order wings during his excused absence from the bubble.

Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports/Reuters

Guests were not permitted to accompany anyone onto campus at the beginning, either.

Once their initial quarantine period resolved, teams were finally able to get to work.

Ashley Landis/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

The league laid out practice courts for each team side-by-side in a converted ballroom.

Then, starting July 22, the NBA tipped off for the first time since March 11 with a series of inter-team scrimmages.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

And the league began resuming the regular season on July 30.

Ashley Landis/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

Since then, teams have been playing in empty arenas at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Mike Ehrmann/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

Amidst the excitement surrounding the league's return to play, the NBA and its players have used their platform to highlight the Black Lives Matter movement and to stand against police brutality.

Ashley Landis/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

Amidst the excitement surrounding the league's return to play, the NBA and its players have used their platform to highlight the Black Lives Matter movement and to stand against police brutality.

Players wear "Black Lives Matter" warm-ups before the opening games.

Ashley Landis/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

And they have the option to add a social justice message on the back of their jerseys.

Ashley Landis, Pool/AP Images

Coaches also wear pins that say "Coaches for Racial Justice."

Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

Though fans are not permitted to attend games in person, they can show their support virtually and even score virtual courtside seats.

Ashley Landis/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports

But even despite music piped into the arena, players are competing in a much quieter environment than they're used to.

Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

The team benches are socially distanced, so players interact far less while reacting to plays on the floor.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Oddly, post-game interviews are socially distanced as well.

Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

And there's no home-court advantage, either.

The NBA has been remarkably successful in keeping players and staff safe inside its "bubble" — an isolated campus at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo-USA TODAY Sports

Although the league has done its best to create an environment that feels reminiscent of a home game for the home team.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

By the time the first round of the playoffs began on August 17, six teams left the bubble after failing to secure a spot in the postseason.

Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo/AP Images

But when they aren't competing on the court, players have found a number of ways to entertain themselves around the bubble.

Fishing has been a popular extracurricular activity among players.

Add it to your Tinder, Luka!

Pelicans sharpshooter JJ Redick downed a beer after fans requested it.

Then a shotgunning contest broke out amongst bubble attendees.

Golf is a popular leisure-time activity as well.

And when players are looking to spruce things up, they can visit one of the three barbershops on-site to get a haircut or manicure. The barbershops were set up by Rajon Rondo's brother.

Lots of players are using their free time to play video games, too.

With some people — like Meyers Leonard — taking it more seriously than others.

Even with plenty to do around campus, it will still be a welcome change of pace when their loved ones arrive in Orlando.

Michael Reaves/Getty Images

After nearly a month in isolation, the league permitted remaining players "to bring in family and 'established longstanding personal friends,' into The Bubble," per Adrian Wojnarowski.

Joe Robbins/Getty Images

After nearly a month in isolation, the league permitted remaining players "to bring in family and 'established longstanding personal friends,' into The Bubble," per Adrian Wojnarowski.

Once the playoffs began, each player was allotted an additional hotel room and allowed to invite up to four guests to join them in the bubble — after quarantining themselves — beginning August 31.

Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Once the playoffs began, each player was allotted an additional hotel room and allowed to invite up to four guests to join them in the bubble — after quarantining themselves — beginning August 31.

Some people may find themselves in the bubble for a while, as the Finals are scheduled to begin on September 30 with a potential Game 7 on October 13.

Mark J. Terrill/AP Images

So long as everyone remains healthy and the bubble doesn't pop, that is.

AP Photo/Ashley Landis

Now check out what life is like for ESPN's Jay Williams:

Crystal Cox/Business Insider

A behind-the-scenes look at a day in the life of ESPN star Jay Williams — from meals with NBA powerhouse agents to battles with Stephen A. Smith

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Inside the NBA bubble — what the NBA's great experiment looks like and how they have avoided a COVID-19 outbreak

Welcome to the NBA bubble.

After the NBA shut down in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Commissioner Adam Silver and the rest of the league sought out a way to safely continue play.

At long last, they settled on restarting the season on a completely isolated campus at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

On July, 22 NBA teams — 16 squads in playoff position prior to the shutdown plus six teams who were still in the hunt — flocked to The Most Magical Place on Earth in pursuit of the league's most unique championship to date.

Players and staff for each team were assigned to hotels on Disney's campus, including The Yacht Club, The Gran Destino Tower, and The Grand Floridian (pictured).

Select members of the media, most of whom arrived after players and staff, were sequestered at Coronado Springs.

At first, everyone arriving at the bubble had to quarantine in their own hotel rooms.

The rooms looked quite luxurious from social media posts.

But some players were unimpressed with their new digs.

Likewise, there were some early concerns about food in the bubble.

But the culinary options have vastly improved over time.

And numerous players have made a habit of shipping their favorite wines into the bubble as well.

Once individuals returned two negative coronavirus tests, they were permitted to exit the strict quarantine that confined them to their hotel rooms.

But everyone was still subjected to daily COVID testing and regular symptom detection.

And players were also offered access to Oura rings, which can detect possible signs of COVID-19 before symptoms set in.

In order to ensure social distancing measures are followed, everyone in the bubble wears a proximity alarm that sounds when they are within a six-foot radius of another individual for more than 10 seconds.

Surfaces and shared equipment were — and are — continually sanitized.

Even still, campus residents were not allowed to leave the bubble.

Rare exceptions include family emergencies, weddings, the birth of a child, and necessary medical care off-site.

In the instances in which players have left the bubble, they've been forced to quarantine away from their teams until it's deemed safe for them to rejoin group activities.

And those who left without explicit permission were subjected to longer periods in isolation.

Like Sacramento Kings forward Richaun Holmes, who accidentally left the bubble to retrieve his Postmates order.

Or Los Angeles Clippers sixth man Lou Williams, who notoriously stopped at Magic City strip club in Atlanta to order wings during his excused absence from the bubble.

Guests were not permitted to accompany anyone onto campus at the beginning, either.

Once their initial quarantine period resolved, teams were finally able to get to work.

The league laid out practice courts for each team side-by-side in a converted ballroom.

Then, starting July 22, the NBA tipped off for the first time since March 11 with a series of inter-team scrimmages.

And the league began resuming the regular season on July 30.

Since then, teams have been playing in empty arenas at Disney's ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

Amidst the excitement surrounding the league's return to play, the NBA and its players have used their platform to highlight the Black Lives Matter movement and to stand against police brutality.

Players wear "Black Lives Matter" warm-ups before the opening games.

And they have the option to add a social justice message on the back of their jerseys.

Coaches also wear pins that say "Coaches for Racial Justice."

Though fans are not permitted to attend games in person, they can show their support virtually and even score virtual courtside seats.

But even despite music piped into the arena, players are competing in a much quieter environment than they're used to.

The team benches are socially distanced, so players interact far less while reacting to plays on the floor.

Oddly, post-game interviews are socially distanced as well.

And there's no home-court advantage, either.

Although the league has done its best to create an environment that feels reminiscent of a home game for the home team.

By the time the first round of the playoffs began on August 17, six teams left the bubble after failing to secure a spot in the postseason.

But when they aren't competing on the court, players have found a number of ways to entertain themselves around the bubble.

Fishing has been a popular extracurricular activity among players.

Add it to your Tinder, Luka!

Pelicans sharpshooter JJ Redick downed a beer after fans requested it.

Then a shotgunning contest broke out amongst bubble attendees.

Golf is a popular leisure-time activity as well.

And when players are looking to spruce things up, they can visit one of the three barbershops on-site to get a haircut or manicure. The barbershops were set up by Rajon Rondo's brother.

Lots of players are using their free time to play video games, too.

With some people — like Meyers Leonard — taking it more seriously than others.

Even with plenty to do around campus, it will still be a welcome change of pace when their loved ones arrive in Orlando.

After nearly a month in isolation, the league permitted remaining players "to bring in family and 'established longstanding personal friends,' into The Bubble," per Adrian Wojnarowski.

Once the playoffs began, each player was allotted an additional hotel room and allowed to invite up to four guests to join them in the bubble — after quarantining themselves — beginning August 31.

Some people may find themselves in the bubble for a while, as the Finals are scheduled to begin on September 30 with a potential Game 7 on October 13.

So long as everyone remains healthy and the bubble doesn't pop, that is.

Now check out what life is like for ESPN's Jay Williams: