NBA players to stay safe in the NBA bubble." data-reactid="16">Joel Embiid said on Tuesday that he doesn’t trust his fellow NBA players to stay safe in the NBA bubble.
Thursday he hammered that fear at home with his clothing en route to Disney World.
NBA center arrived for the team flight to Florida decked out in gloves, a mask and a hazmat suit." data-reactid="18">The Philadelphia 76ers All-NBA center arrived for team flight to Florida, dressed in gloves, a mask and a fire retardant suit.
Embiid usually makes jokes, and the dress was obviously for the show as he started throwing it while getting on the plane. But the concerns he expressed on Tuesday are real.
‘I hated the idea’
Joel Embiid on concerns going to Orlando:
“I’m not a big fan of the idea. But then again, I will do my job. I am not going to disappoint the city. I will represent my city, my family, my teammates: that’s what I’ve always done. “#Sixershttps: //t.co/v7pIJGfGIH pic.twitter.com/1OcTptsRJe
– Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) July 7, 2020
“I hated the idea,” Embiid said when asked about it in a video call with reporters about fears about the bubble league. “I feel that with all that has happened, it is a pity what is going on in the world. …
“All I want to be is, you know, stay healthy and stay safe, keep the people around me safe. I want to make sure that I am able to live a long time and that I don’t have any consequences, I don’t know, in the future. “
Joel Embiid expressed concern about the security of the NBA bubble. (Photo by Jason Miller / Getty Images)
Embiid declined the opt-out option
NBA players had the option to opt out of the bubble league without penalty beyond missed game checks. Despite his concerns, Embiid chose not to exercise that option. None of the players who opted out are All-Stars, and Embiid would have been the most notable absence by far had he chosen to join them." data-reactid="39">NBA players had the opportunity to give up the bubble league without penalty in addition to lost game controls. Despite his concerns, Embiid has chosen not to exercise this option. None of the players who gave up is All-Stars and Embiid would have been by far the most notable absence if he had chosen to join them.
Of the players who have given up, only the Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley is an advocate for a championship contender. The 76ers may not be among the favorites in the league, but Embiid not showing up to compete for a title would have been more than remarkable.
And for this, Embiid chose to participate, telling reporters that he didn’t want to disappoint his teammates or fans.
But while he is there, he is planning to play it safe. Playing safely in this case means playing video games in his room.
“I know I will do the right things,” said Embiid. “I never do anything. I only play video games. I’m always at home. I don’t do anything. But, again, I don’t trust the other kids to do the same. But like I said, I have to do my job.”
