The Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks reportedly are “opposed” to the idea of a second NBA bubble for the eight teams not included in the league’s 22-team restart.
Both the Knicks and Warriors were among the worst teams in the league this season, with Golden State’s season being decimated by injuries to guards Klay Thompson and Stephen Curry.
Forbes’ Evan Dammarell explained the dilemma the league is facing due to the two teams not wanting to play.
“But, while the 22 teams on their Disney vacation are thriving, the eight teams forced to stay home are waning,” Dammarell wrote. “For a brief moment, it felt like these eight organizations, collectively known as the Delete Eight, would be participating in a second bubble-style campus this fall. But, that train never got far from the station as both the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors were opposed to the idea, according to league sources. There was also the idea floated of these teams coming to the Disney bubble once the playoffs began but that’s also a non-starter for a myriad of reasons, per league sources. That puts the Delete Eight in a dire situation, as they are now facing the reality of going nearly nine months without playing competitive or meaningful basketball.”
Curry said in July that it would be “hard” for him to participate in a second bubble because the games wouldn’t count towards anything.
However, unlike the Warriors and Knicks, the Cleveland Cavaliers are pushing hard to get the season resumed.
Cleveland general manager Koby Altman has been the driving force behind a potential second bubble.
The disconnect between the eight teams that have been left out could be detrimental to those squads looking to develop their young players prior to next season.
