Golf, a loophole for NBA players and coaches

The players repeat, there really isn’t much to do in the “bubble”, and the Lakers, Nuggets, Heat and Celtics will be there for almost three months. Among the activities that allow you to take your mind off things, there is golf. We know that Doc Rivers spent a lot of time there. JR Smith, Alex Caruso and Paul Millsap too. Eliminated from the title race, Garrett Temple, Kyle Lowry and JJ Barea were also among the most assiduous, unlike a LeBron James who has never been passionate about the sport.

Another player who spends a lot of time there, Andre Iguodala. ” I only golf between the playoffs. Never during He warns on USA Today. ” I injured my ankle facing the Bucks, and I didn’t go out for five days. I really had bad thoughts that crossed my mind. »

An application to manage the schedule

Both members of the executive committee of the players’ union, Garrett Temple and Andre Iguodala had insisted to the NBA that the chosen “bubble” includes one or more golf courses. ” Being a union leader, I had learned a little before anyone else that we were going to Disney, and Andre and I wanted to be sure that golf was possible in the bubble. Explained in July the back of the Nets on Golf.com.

The NBA agreed, and they allow each player a slot of about two hours a day. For the organization of the schedule on the three possible routes, the NBA has even developed an application that allows you to see the available slots, but also to manage transport and equipment. To be quiet, some even go there “in the cool”, before the morning training.

Like his former teammate Stephen Curry, Andre Iguodala is one of the best basketball players, club in hand, with a card of 80 on an 18-hole course with a par of 72. ” The course is about 6,400 meters and that’s a good distance. There are traps left and right. I even passed the par seven times over 10 holes. »

“Iggy” successfully transmitted the virus to Duncan Robinson, Kelly Olynyk and Goran Dragic. ” It’s mentally good to have something else to think about, so I asked to be sent to clubs, just to try something new. »Explains the Slovenian, while Duncan Robinson says that the« green »is a must for Andre Iguodala. ” I talked to Andre about it, and he told me the Warriors play a lot of golf. As a result, he always puts pressure on me because he still wants to play it. He said to me, ‘Man, we used to play there between Finals games, and you don’t want to go play when we have a simple regular season game?’ »

Matt Thomas, the best golfer in the “bubble”?

Golf allows you to change your mind, but also to hang out with players from other teams, and the series “The Last Dance” also showed Michael Jordan who challenged Danny Ainge between two playoff matches.

Same thing 35 years later as USA Today reports that Kyle Lowry teamed up with Mike Penberthy, Frank Vogel’s staff member, and they both challenged the Jason Kidd – JR Smith tandem. Champion in 2001 with the Shaq and Kobe Bryant, Mike Penberthy is one of the best golfers in the “bubble” with a handicap of 3. ” I play every day, and I try to play as much as possible. The truth is, Frank Vogel encourages us to do this He explains to USA Today. ” He doesn’t want us to go crazy, and whether it’s biking or golfing, he wants to see us outside. »

In the end, who is the best of all, including players and coaches? We know that Doc Rivers voted JJ Barea, but Andre Iguodala prefers Matt Thomas, the Raptors shooter, who had declared that his duet with Kyle Lowry was the best of the bubble. ” He has play! He must be handicap 2 ″ confirms “Iggy”. But the best of all is not a player, but indeed Rob Fodor, the Heat shooting specialist, to whom Duncan Robinson owes a lot. ” He is arguably the best golfer here »Says Kelly Olynyk. ” He’s the best I’ve ever played with. »

It must be said that Rob Fodor regularly makes cards under the 70s, and even if he plays it modest, he took part in semi-pro competitions, and he even won some!

Moreover, it is to him that the players turn to progress and choose the right equipment. His only regret? He can’t play as much as he wants because the NBA has put players first.