PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 10: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on against the Charlotte Hornets at the Wells Fargo Center on November 10, 2019 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Hornets 114-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Joel Embiid is one of among several players who are voicing their doubt over the NBA’s plan to continue the season in Orlando.
The NBA is slated to resume to action later this month in Orlando, but many players are beginning to have doubts on whether the league’s bubble plan will end up working.
Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid is among those skeptical with the NBA’s overall plan and if it could succeed without any major issues. In speaking to reporters via a video conference call on Tuesday, Embiid touched on his concern on whether other players will follow along with the strict protocol in Orlando.
Under the NBA’s guidelines, any player who leaves the bubble in Orlando without approval will have to quarantine for at least a 10-day period before re-entering. Any such player must then record consecutive negative tests for COVID-19 before they can proceed to rejoin their respective team. The league plans to test regularly in hopes of preventing any kind of a significant widespread within its bubble.
Joel Embiid’s reason for concern over the NBA’s restart is valid.
The NBA’s initial announcement of its plan to return to action garnered stark disapproval from many players, including Embiid. Like for any player under the current uncertain times, health is a top priority for the All-Star center.
“I hated the idea,” Embiid said. “I feel like with everything that’s been going on, it’s unfortunate with what’s going on…all I wanna do is stay safe and stay healthy, keep the people around me safe.”
Several players have already opted out of participating in the NBA’s bubble plan to finish off the season. At one point, Embiid pondered doing the same but decided to go all in for the team and city.
“I’m not a big fan of the idea,” Embiid said. “But then again, I’m going to do my job. I’m not going to let the city down.”
The 76ers currently stand at sixth in the Eastern Conference with a clear 8.5 game lead over the Brooklyn Nets. With the eighth-place seeding games left in the regular season, the team still has a realistic chance of jumping into the top four in the East. They will need as much help from Embiid as they can get if they aspire to make a deep playoff run.