Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has criticized the National Basketball Association's policy that prevents the families of coa...
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has criticized the National Basketball Association's policy that prevents the families of coaches entering the bubble-like campus near Orlando, where the season resumed amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The NBA, which was suspended in March due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, re-started in July at the Walt Disney World sports complex in Florida without fans and strict safety protocols in place.
Players were allowed to see family members for the first time this week, while referees have the option of bringing one guest into the bubble once the Conference Finals begin, ESPN said.
However, coaches are still prohibited from bringing family members into the bubble and Malone, who is married and has two children, said the policy was 'criminal in nature.'
Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone (above) blasted the NBA on Friday for its 'criminal in nature' policy of not allowing coaches to bring family members into the bubble near Orlando
Malone is seen left with his wife, Jocelyn Malone, at the 2019 NBA Awards in Santa Monica, California, on June 24, 2019
'The reason I bring this up is because the players have their families here, which is the right thing to do,' Malone, 48, told reporters.
'The referees are allowed to bring one guest, which is great. The coaches, the coaches are not allowed to bring anybody.'
'I say, "shame on you, NBA". This is crazy. I miss my family. I think I speak for me... and probably all the coaches down here. Sixty days and not being granted the privilege to have my family come here is criminal in nature.'
The National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) said in a statement they were determining the feasibility of allowing coaches' families to enter the bubble.
'The challenges of being away from family for so long can be overwhelming. Discussions with the league office are ongoing. We will continue to work with the NBA to evaluate the viability of coaches' families coming to Orlando as more teams exit,' the NBCA said on Twitter.
Spouses and families of players were allowed into the bubble this week when conference semifinals began in the 2020 NBA playoffs.
Malone's Nuggets advanced to the conference semis after defeating the Utah Jazz in the first round of their playoff series. They will play the second game of their best-of-seven against the Los Angeles Clippers starting tonight at 9pm Eastern time.
The game will air on TNT. The Clippers won the first game.
While players are allowed to bring their wives and kids, they won't be able to see girlfriends, blind dates, and tattoo artists.
The league set guidelines for player guests that fall into the 'other' classification, such as girlfriends and recent acquaintances.
An August memo from the NBA and NBPA outlines what the league will tolerate as a significant other.
The NBA instituted strict health protocols that limit who coaches, players, and referees can bring into the bubble. The image above shows the Nuggets playing the Clippers on Thursday during the first game of their second-round playoff series at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando
It will preclude players from hosting guests considered casual in nature, including 'known by the player only through social media or an intermediary,' according to the memo obtained by ESPN.
Players must prove a longstanding relationship with a non-spouse.
While friends and family will be defined in greater clarity, per the memo, those prohibited in the NBA bubble include agents, chefs, trainers and tattoo artists.
Once in the bubble, family members must quarantine and then agree to follow the same restrictions applied to players and staff. There is no allowance for leaving the campus.
Players will receive one ticket per guest per playoff game.
Thus far, the league's bubble seems to be working as there have been no positive coronavirus tests among players over the last eight weeks.
The NBA restarted its pandemic-delayed season in late July with 22 of the league's 30 teams inside the proverbial bubble at Disney World outside Orlando.
Players have been away from their families and the general public over the last few weeks to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection and prevent the kind of outbreaks that have led Major League Baseball to postpone 41 games thus far in 2020.
With the help monitors and electronic bracelets, players are monitored in an effort to maintain social distancing. They may be permitted to leave the bubble, but are required to quarantine for several days upon their return.
When the playoffs started last month, players on the eight clubs that failed to reach the postseason were permitted to leave the bubble.
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