Photo Credit: Geoff Burke/USA Today SportsNBA

NBA Starts Putting Security Guards Onto Court To Prevent Post-Game Hugs & Handshakes Between Players

Following the rising number of NBA players testing positive for the Coronavirus, or getting sidelined due to contact tracing, with NBA games getting postponed as a consequence, the NBA updated its coronavirus protocols in significant fashion earlier this week.

One of the new rules is concerning pre-game or post-game hugs and handshakes between players:

“Players are prohibited from arriving at the arena more than three hours before tip-off.  During the pre- and post-game periods, players must limit interactions to elbow or fist bumps, avoid extended socializing and maintain 6 feet of distance as much as possible.”

But in the first couple of games since the installment of the rule, players haven’t really paid too much attention to it. 

The NBA though, is serious about the rule, and as a consequence of players still talking to each other post-game, they will move security personnel midcourt, to avoid it from happening again.

Per ESPN:

After witnessing some opposing players disregarding new league rules against unnecessary contact on game nights, the NBA is moving team security into the midcourt area to dissuade violations that include hugging and handshakes, according to a league memo obtained by ESPN on Wednesday.

While I can see the reasoning behind it, the rule itself is pretty ridiculous, given the fact that these exact same players are playing basketball against each other, while breathing heavily, sweating, and touching their opponents without any masks.