Mike D’Antoni wishes coaches at NBA bubble could have family guests

“I’d be willing to sacrifice the journalists [at the bubble] for my family,” D’Antoni joked. “We should talk to them about that.”

Earlier Friday, Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone was critical of the NBA’s guest policy at the Disney World “bubble,” which now allows players (but not coaches) to have a certain number of guests. The guests were allowed to enter following the first round of the playoffs.

Malone also said that the league’s current policy even allows referees to have a guest, though the NBA later disputed that in a statement. “We are hoping to add additional family members for other participants beginning with the Conference Finals,” an NBA spokesperson said.

“We are mindful of the incredible hardship these restrictions impose and wish it were not necessary for the health and safety of everyone involved,” the league’s Friday statement concludes.

In his pregame interview, Houston Rockets head coach Mike D’Antoni said he agreed with Malone. However, the 69-year-old also conceded that he knew it was a tough decision for the league, which wants to keep the campus headcount as low as possible to reduce COVID-19 risks.

At one point, D’Antoni even joked that the league could reduce the amount of on-site journalists as a means of providing more space for guests.

When asked if D’Antoni agreed with Malone, he said:

Yeah. If you’re introducing new elements into the bubble, then players, coaches, trainers… everybody should have the same opportunity. It’s hard to distinguish between the players’ families and the coaches. … I do understand the other side, and what the NBA is doing. Tough situation. Some people are more impacted more than others, obviously. It’s just tough all the way around. But I do feel that what Mike says is correct.

It’s tough to make that decision. They want to keep it as tight as possible. … Now I’d be willing to sacrifice the journalists for my family [laughs]. We should talk to them about that. We could take two or three of you guys… just kidding.

Those are hard decisions, and I understand both sides, and I understand where Mike’s coming from.

Game 1 of the second-round playoff series between D’Antoni’s Rockets and the Los Angeles Lakers is set for 8:00 p.m. Central on Friday night, with a national broadcast on ESPN. It remains to be seen which players on the two teams will have guests present at the arena.

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