OKC Thunder: NBA day 12 -the bubble life reality show

The OKC Thunder got back to action Friday along with ample drama and humor on day 12 in the Disney bubble.

The countdown is on with less than two weeks (12 days) until the season restarts. In between, there will be practices and scrimmages interlaced with humor, and increased paranoia over that hotline. Friday’s schedule witnessed the OKC Thunder returning to the practice court after a rare day off to relax their sore limbs.

On the court, the most enticing Thunder news is Andre Roberson who hasn’t missed any practices and is fully participating and — looking good!

Off the court, the players are in the infancy stage of discovering activities to occupy their downtime and are still in celebration mode having reunited with their basketball family after so much time apart.

I’m finding there is an ironic dynamic to the Disney bubble. In the pre-pandemic world, fans were limited to how frequently they saw the players. Unless the team or player had a special community function that was the only time you saw the players other than game-related activities.

But in the bubble, for as exclusive and isolated as it is, because the players are all in one place it feels similar to a reality show. In comparison to the pre-pandemic world, it seems like we’re witnessing so much more. Full disclosure: it’s also possible these are the delusions of a basketball starved fanatic so any minuscule tidbit feels larger than life.

Players appear to be much more active collectively on social media. Plus with the Twitter @NBABubbleLife serving up constant gems it sure feels like we’re getting to peek behind the curtain more than normal. To that end, I’m pretty sure the twitter account belongs to Rich Paul (that’s who is pictured). And, it makes sense given many of his featured tweets are also Klutch Sports clients.

For as entertaining as it’s all been, let’s hope the bubble stays impenetrable for the players’ team/league/Disney staff and media members’ safety.

With the restart 12 days away and scrimmages looming, each day is serving up plenty of action and news. To that end, let’s look at some of the highlights and hot topics from inside the NBA campus setting.

Inside the reality show of the NBA Disney bubble

A day after Zion Williamson left the bubble to attend to a family situation another big name left the campus. LA Clippers Montrezl Harrel had to exit the bubble to attend to a family emergency but is expected to rejoin his teammates before the season resumption on July 30th.

Many top teams have been affected as it was announced Milwaukee Bucks guard Eric Bledsoe remains at home after testing positive for COVID-19. Bledsoe is asymptomatic and anxious to join his squad. Former OKC Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook remains at home after also testing positive.

Williamson and Harrell will have to be tested daily while they are away consistently producing negative results. If this protocol is followed each will be quarantined for four days upon their return. If however, they do not take the tests each day (or test negative) the quarantine will be significantly longer upon their return.

Dwight Howard is the first player (at least publicly) we’ve learned who received a warning due to anonymous calls to the hotline. Reportedly, a few calls came in stating he wasn’t wearing his mask and since the warning, he’s adjusted to constantly wearing it. And, no, apparently it WAS NOT Chris Paul who was the source.

Speaking of masks, former OKC Thunder star James Harden had tongues wagging over the PPE mask he donned on his first day out and about on campus. The mask had two images on it — a “Punisher” skull and a thin blue line. Both images are symbols representing Blue Lives Matter, a police advocacy group. With many in the bubble keen to reform social justice and police brutality, the mask caused a stir on social media.

After being made aware of what the mask meant Harden noted he wasn’t trying to make a political statement nor did he realize what the symbols implied. Moreover, he noted he thought the image looked cool but it mostly had to do with the fact it covered his massive beard.

On a lighter note, the trio of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Chris Paul, and Darius Bazley has served up the best entertainment for Thunder Nation to date. Whether a match of cornhole, fishing, or social media interactions they’ve kept fans invested in the bubble. However, today’s offering from Bazley cemented why he’s become the OKC Thunder social media star.

This time Bazley produced a hilarious turn in his imitation of Shai they both added to their Instagram stories. Bazley’s story included him collecting the shoes at practice as part of his rookie duties, shouting out Damian Lillard’s new rap song, and singing himself. SGA’s IG story was in response to Baz’s impression which he wasn’t buying. Since I’m from the land of the North I’ll weigh in too — I’m not sure I buy the Canadian accent, but you did nail the “eh” as far as placement in the sentence. 😉

While Bazley has been Mr. Charisma, the Tobi and Bobi (Tobias Harris and Boban Marjanovic) show has provided some of the best bits in the past 10 days. In a sitcom-style plotline, Luka Doncic had Tobi worried he’d lost Bobi, but the duo worked out their differences after Bobi sent birthday favors to Tobias (cake and wine).

Still, Harris might not need to look far if Luka does become Bobi’s new BFF as Matisse Thybulle’s docuseries Welcome To The Bubble remains the best overall view behind the curtain if you will.