Oklahoma City Thunder guard George Hill didn’t mince his words when asked what he thought about the new NBA coronavirus protocol on the heels of game postponements around the league.
“I’m a grown man so I’m gonna do what I want to do. If I want to go see my family, I’m gonna go see my family. They can’t tell me I have to stay in the room 24/7,” Hill said.
“If it’s that serious, then maybe we shouldn’t be playing.”
At home, players have been instructed to remain in their homes at all times unless exercising outside, performing essential activities or are outside due to what The Athletic’s Shams Charania referred to as “extraordinary circumstance.”
On the road, players are instructed to stay in the hotel unless it’s a team activity or emergency.
Guests will not be allowed in hotel rooms on the road, according to ESPN.
Players were previously allowed up to two family members or longtime friends in hotel rooms.
“We want to play the game. This is what we love to do. But at the same time, if we’re casting all these rules, this and that, maybe they need to re-evaluate what we’re doing, if it’s that serious where you’re telling guys they can’t leave the room,” Hill said.
“I just don’t understand some of the rules. We can sweat 48 minutes with the guy next to us and the team next to us, but we can’t talk to them after the game? It makes no sense to me.”
Four games have been postponed this week as teams including the Chicago Bulls, Boston Celtics, Miami Heat, Dallas Mavericks, Washington Wizards and Philadelphia 76ers have struggled to have enough players to fill active rosters due to positive coronavirus tests and contact tracing protocol, according to ESPN.
The Wednesday game between the Celtics and Orlando Magic and the game between the Wizards and Utah Jazz were postponed.
Another veteran, Al Horford, was asked about his thoughts prior to the game just a couple hours after news broke about the protocols.
“I haven’t seen some of the new stuff yet, but that’s the only way that I feel like we’re gonna be able to continue with the season” he said.
“We’re at a point now that we have to reevaluate, or the NBA has to reevaluate and see how everything is going. But more importantly, we all have to continue to take care of ourselves and stay diligent, because this virus is not going anywhere.”
Two third-year players, guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Hamidou Diallo, expressed a less troubled emotion to the rule than Hill.
“It’s challenging, obviously, not being used to all the protocols and all the rules. But for me personally, it’s what’s necessary,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“I’m for whatever as long as we keep playing basketball, we don’t want to see anything happen to where we can’t play the game again,” Diallo said. “As long as we can keep playing basketball I’m fine with it”
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