Damian Lillard thinks NBA players will break 'bubble' rules

On Wednesday, Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal admitted one reason he hasn't yet committed to playing in the NBA's 22-team format to crown a champion that begins on July 30 is that he's not enamored with quarantining, living and playing at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Florida.

Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard believes some of his fellow players could try to bend the league's rules for maintaining safety and limiting exposure to those outside of the "bubble" site once everybody arrives at the campus.

Per ESPN's Royce Young, Lillard spoke about this with reporters:

"My confidence ain't great because you're telling me you're gonna have 22 teams full of players following all the rules? When we have 100 percent freedom, everybody don't follow all the rules. I don't have much confidence. But hopefully it'll be handled to a point where we're not putting everybody at risk or in a dangerous position."

Lillard added that he's not thinking about living outside of league protocols once he enters the quarantined campus: 

"I know there're going to activities for us and all that stuff, but I mean, I'm gonna be chilling. I feel like there's still a possibility for something to spread within that bubble, just with so many people doing so many different things that we've got to follow to be safe, even though we're not exposed to the public. So for me, it's going to be: What time is practice, what time can I get in the weight room, what time can I get some shots up, what's the plan for game day. And then I'm gonna be in the room. I'm gonna have my PS3, my PS4, I'm gonna have my studio equipment, my mic, my laptop, I'm gonna have all my books. That's it, man. I'm gonna be in the room, chilling."

Recent events have shown how quickly things can fall apart for a team or even an entire league in these uncertain times. The Athletic's Meg Linehan reported that Orlando Pride withdrew from the NWSL Challenge Cup ahead of the tournament because of a coronavirus outbreak among the squad that might have been caused by multiple players visiting a bar before team personnel tested positive. 

PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan has threatened that players who don't follow safety guidelines could face "serious repercussions" over the summer.

Major League Soccer side FC Dallas began July experiencing a virus outbreak among footballers that could threaten the club's involvement in the MLS is Back tournament scheduled to begin at the Wide World of Sports Complex on July 8.