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The NBA has recently released a string of strict guidelines for its players, staff, and guests in the bubble location in Orlando. For card games, players are required to follow certain health protocols.
Per Zach Lowe of ESPN, players playing cards indoors should wear masks. The NBA initially wanted to impose a social distancing protocol but considered it not “practicable.” After playing with the cards, the players/staff must then dispose of the deck.
The NBA health protocols concede maintaining 6 feet of distance during card games "may not be practicable," and require anyone playing cards indoors wear masks. Players/staff must dispose of the deck at the end of each game/session. "Sufficient packs of cards will be available."
— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) June 17, 2020
The card-playing rules are one of the health protocols that the league has set to protect the health and well-being of its players. After all, a single coronavirus infection could mean the end of the 2019-20 NBA season once and for all.
All players, team staff, and guests must “certify in writing” that they will follow all rules and guidelines while in the bubble location.
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Failure to comply with protocols subjects a player to potential discipline such as warning,
fine, suspension, and/or removal from the campus. https://t.co/Z36fdkOC7r— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 17, 2020
In the event that they violate these guidelines, then sanctions will follow. They could be given a warning, imposed a fine or a suspension, or be outright expelled from the campus.
The NBA is pretty much aware that players play a lot of card games during long plane trips. It's not just a way for them to relax and take their mind off basketball, but it also serves as a different avenue to channel their innate competitiveness.
As such, while the campus will contain different modes of entertainment such as video game booths, pool, and ping pong tables, theaters, and the like, players will likely go back to shuffling and dealing out that that 52-card deck.
