Quick Take:
The Warriors will be back in action, but fans will have to watch them on TV. The Golden State Warriors’ G League affiliate will be one of 18 teams taking part in what could be dubbed “The Bubble Experiment Part II” in Orlando next month.
There will be a Santa Cruz Warriors season in 2021. But, as expected, it will happen far from Surf City.
The Golden State Warriors’ G League affiliate will be one of 18 teams taking part in what could be dubbed “The Bubble Experiment Part II” in Orlando next month.
Interviewed by Lookout in November, Santa Cruz Warriors President Chris Murphy was prepared for an unconventional season, likely played away from home.
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“Our main priority has always been the health and safety of our players, staff members and community, and the G League’s decision to minimize COVID-19 related health risks by centralizing in one location is a decision we support,” Murphy said in a statement Friday.
“We are excited to virtually cheer on our team for the 2020-21 season and look forward to seeing our team and players continue to develop their skills.”
A broadcast schedule will be released once the game schedule is set.
While the G League season was cut short by COVID-19 in June, the NBA was able to successfully resurrect its season via a single, contained site at Walt Disney World that people referred to as “The Bubble” last summer.
That’s where the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Miami Heat in the NBA Finals and, more importantly, no players tested positive for COVID-19 and no games were postponed or canceled because of virus spread.
In the upcoming G League season, the top eight teams will advance to a single-elimination playoff.
Though the league didn’t release any schedule information, The Athletic reported in late December that teams will arrive in their home markets for physicals and onboarding on Jan. 19, head to Orlando on Jan. 26 with tip-off on a 12- to 15-game season set for Feb. 8.
According to that timeline, the tentative playoff schedule would be from March 5-9.
“We worked closely with our teams, the Basketball Players Union, and public health experts to develop a structure that allows our teams to gather at a single site and safely play,” NBA G League President Shareef Abdur-Rahim said in a statement.
“We are thrilled to get back to basketball and to fulfill our mission as a critical resource for the NBA in developing players, coaches, referees, athletic trainers and front-office staff.”
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