After the Brooklyn Nets’ 128-124 over the Miami Heat, Nets guard Kyrie Irving asked Heat center Bam Adebayo to swap jerseys –but they were stopped by a Heat security member before they were able to do so.
The NBA’s new health and safety protocols state that team’s must minimize post-game contact.
Some teams have taken a laissez-fare approach to the new rule – but the Miami Heat evidently have not.
https://twitter.com/ESPNNBA/status/1353189653248151552
In the video, Irving can be seen grabbing at Adebayo’s jersey, presumably suggesting that they should swap jerseys as players often do.
But within seconds, a Heat security member swooped in and stopped the swap.
Irving seemed incredulous; Adebayo seemed powerless.
Of course, the whole situation seems a bit ridiculous considering the fact that both players were in close-contact minutes prior.
At the end of the video, Adebayo can be seen motioning to his jersey, seemingly to suggest he’d send it to Irving.
The NBA is taking COVID-19 seriously – as they should – but one’s left to wonder if post-game jersey swaps are really the reason for viral transmission, not close-contact sweat and spit emissions that travel freely in NBA games.