NBA teams began leaving for Florida on Tuesday to begin preparations to resume the 2019-20 season later this month. The coronavirus pandemic forced the league to shut down play on March 11. With the virus making a comeback, especially in states like Florida, NBA commissioner Adam Silver is concerned.

The number of recent positive coronavirus tests could burst the NBA’s bubble. The NBA began league-wide testing roughly two weeks ago. All players, coaches, and staff members that would be part of the traveling parties were tested. As a result, there have been more positive tests.

The latest to test positive was Brooklyn guard Spencer Dinwiddie who will not make the trip to Orlando. The Nets were among several teams – Denver, LA Clippers, Miami, Milwaukee, and Sacramento – that closed their practice facilities in the past week because of the number of positive COVID-19 cases in their traveling parties.

The state of Florida reported 7,347 additional positive cases of the virus on Tuesday bringing the state’s total number to 213.794. Most of the cases are in counties other than Orange and Osceloa where the Walt Disney World Resort is located. The resort is where the NBA will house its players and play all of its games. 

Teams are to begin their training camps on July 9. They will continue through July 29. Between July 22-28, teams will play three scrimmages. Play will resume beginning July 30 with seeding games running through August 14.

Silver has said that one positive coronavirus case isn’t going to shut down the league again. He worries about a spread of the virus in the bubble. If that happens, he might be forced to put a stop to the season again. He remains confident though as the league has the ability to trace the virus and, hopefully, curtail a potential threat.

Rick Bouch