Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers has reportedly left the NBA’s temporary bubble in Orlando amid an urgent family emergency. Rivers is far from the first player to exit the bubble after already making an arrival, joining players such as Zion Williamson and Montrezl Harrell who have also left to tend to their families.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Rivers’ absence isn’t expected to be an extended one, and he plans to rejoin the bubble this coming weekend.
Rockets guard Austin Rivers has left the Orlando bubble due to an urgent family matter, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 24, 2020
Rockets' Austin Rivers expects to return to the Orlando bubble sometime this weekend, sources said. https://t.co/eMpEYuha8a
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 24, 2020
Though players and teams knew that holding the remainder of the NBA season in a confined location would come with a certain set of challenges, issues such as family emergencies wasn’t the league’s primary concern. The NBA’s focus is to keep its athletes safe and out of harm’s way in the bubble but separating players from their families who may be battling through various issues during this time in history has already shown to be having an impact.
Covid-19 has already affected the Rockets more than most teams in the NBA, as Russell Westbrook was forced to quarantine and make a late arrival to the campus after he tested positive for the virus. Westbrook has since joined his teammates in Orlando. With Rivers’ absence only expected to last a few days, the backup guard should be ready to go for when the remainder of the regular season tips off a week from today.
