NBA Doubles Down, Creates Second 'Bubble' For Non-Playoff Teams
The NBA presses its luck
If you thought one NBA bubble was a safety hazard, wait until you hear about the league's latest plans.
The NBA is planning to create a second quarantined site in Chicago, which will host the eight teams who will not play in Orlando, according to ESPN's Jackie MacMullan. Teams are expected to arrive in Chicago in September, then hold a training camp before games are played. It's unlikely those games–or more aptly, scrimmages–will count toward the 2019-20 standings.
Perhaps the NBA's second bubble idea is a smart measure for competitive balance purposes, but this feels like a major unnecessary health risk. The less teams that resume the season the better, especially for those who are already eliminated from the playoffs. The NBA may be pressing its luck a bit too far with this idea.
FedEx puts the pressure on
Washington's team name has drawn no shortage of criticism in recent years, and team sponsor FedEx could be the catalyst in changing it.
The shopping company had officially requested the team's name be changed, joining Nike and PepsiCo, among other sponsors. All items featuring Washington's team name were also removed from Nike's online store on Thursday night.
Perhaps owner Dan Snyder stays stubborn and keeps the team name, but the pressure from FedEx is notable regardless. Perhaps a new team name and new stadium is on the horizon in the 2020s.
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