The NBA has proven sports can thrive during the coronavirus pandemic through its unique bubble at Disney World in Orlando, Florida.

For the third straight week, the NBA recorded zero positive cases out of more than 300 players tested.

While the experience is different with no fans watching live in the venue, the game pretty much has been the same with the first week of the season restart highlighted with clutch plays and gripping hoops action.

The success of the season restart is a result of a smooth-sailing partnership between the NBA and the players, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum said.

“We could not do this if we did not have an incredible working relationship with the players,” Tatum said in a conference call with reporters.

“They have to agree that the conditions that we were creating were going to be safe and going to be healthy for them and for everybody involved.”

A major concern for the players earlier was that the season restart might take away the attention from the fight against the systemic racism and police brutality in the USA.

The NBA addressed this by allowing players to put social justice statements like “Freedom” and “Peace” on their jerseys and having “Black Lives Matter” displayed on the courts in the bubble.

“Even the social justice messages, [they were] in conjunction and in partnership with our players,” Tatum said.

Obviously, the players face challenges in the bubble.

One that has been put to light in the past couple of weeks is the absence of sex as Los Angeles Clippers’ Lou Williams went to a strip club after attending a funeral of a family friend.

In his defense, Williams said he paid the strip club – the Magic City in Atlanta – a visit to pick up chicken wings.

Tatum said the NBA plans to allow players’ family members to enter the bubble after the first round of the playoffs.

“We understand that everyone is making tremendous sacrifices here to be within that campus environment, all in the name of safety and health.”

With regards to the NBA finishing the season, Tatum said the league is in coordination with virology and epidemiology experts for any virus-related problem that may arise.

“There are so many different scenarios that could happen, but I would say that we have a process for dealing with those kind of scenarios at this point,” Tatum said.

“Right now, I would say that our protocols are working and that we are hopeful and optimistic – if everyone is in compliance with the protocols – that we will be able to crown a champion at the end of the season. – Rappler.com