What will life look like in the bubble?
That's a question many NBA players are wondering as 22 teams prepare to hunker down in Orlando, Fla., for several months this summer and resume the 2019-20 season.
Not only will players be isolated from family and friends, but they'll also need to adhere to the NBA's strict safety protocols implemented to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19.
On top of that, they'll also be grappling with how best to use their voices to continue speaking out against racial injustice and police brutality following the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other Black men and women.
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In short, players will be under a lot of stress. That's where Keyon Dooling comes in.
The former Boston Celtics point guard now is the NBA Players Association's wellness counselor and mental health advocate and works closely with Dr. William D. Parham, the NBPA's director of mental health and wellness.
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NBC Sports NBA Insider Tom Haberstroh recently spoke with Parham, who said he and Dooling "have been receiving texts from players directly on a regular basis" expressing concerns about their mental health entering the NBA bubble.
"There’s certainly a fair amount of anxiety, depression, uncertainty, confusion, chaos, disbelief at the extremes, resentment and anger," Parham told Haberstroh. "The pandemic, particularly the global nature of it, is unprecedented. There’s no playbook for this."
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Amid such uncertainty, Parham and Dooling are valuable resources for players seeking guidance. And Dooling is optimistic the players will be up to the challenge of finding their place in the bubble.
"I believe that our guys understand our role in society," Dooling said on NBC Sports Boston's Celtics Talk Podcast earlier this month.
"We understand what we do and who we are. And so, if there's a chance where we can kind of carry the burden along with everybody else, I think our guys are excited. I think Chris Paul said it best, guys are hungry to play."