Mike Malone rips NBA for not letting coaches have family in bubble

Nuggets coach Michael Malone created a controversy on Friday when he criticized the league for not allowing coaches’ families to enter the Orlando campus. Malone said the league should be ashamed for the prohibition, according the Denver Post’s Mike Singer. “I miss my family, and I think I speak for me, I speak for my coaches and probably all the coaches down here,” he said. “Sixty days and not having access and not being granted the privilege to have my family come here, to me, is criminal in nature.” Players were allowed to bring in a limited number of family members and guests after the opening round of the playoffs.

• In response, as Sam Amick from The Athletic relays (Twitter link), the league issued a statement that read in part: “We are hoping to add additional family members for other participants beginning with the Conference Finals.” Coaches Association president Rick Carlisle then issued a statement, relayed by ESPN’s Tim MacMahon (Twitter link), indicating that “NBCA discussions with the league office are ongoing. We will continue to work with the NBA as partners to evaluate the viability of coaches’ families coming to Orlando as more teams exit.”
• LeBron James paid homage to Players Association president Chris Paul for his role in the NBA resumption and leadership in Orlando: “Obviously we’re here right now in this bubble and the restart of our season is a large part to him and to everyone that had anything to do with the PA,” James said. “But CP was very instrumental to this thing getting restarted. I commend him on that, his leadership, his candid words since he’s been here, both on and off the floor. Just another inspiring person, man. Not only from a basketball perspective.” (hat tip to Orange County Register’s Kyle Goon)
• Offensive efficiency has increased during the resumption, and The Athletic’s Seth Partnow explores the potential reasons for the upswing this summer.