Former UF standout point guard Chris Chiozza, now a starter with the New Jersey Nets, talked about life in the NBA "Bubble" and the restart to the 2020-21 season and a Zoom call Wednesday from his swank Disney hotel.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The NBA tips off its reboot Thursday night from the so-called "bubble" in Orlando, with the league getting (so far) rave reviews for its run-up to the restart and unique handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
There are seven University of Florida alums scattered across the Disney properties (eight, counting a certain former head coach), including Brooklyn Nets point guard Chris Chiozza, who answered our Zoom call (video below) Tuesday and shed some light on NBA quarantine life from the comforts of his luxury hotel room at the Grand Floridian Hotel.
The Nets currently are resting in the No. 7-seed spot and appear a lock to reach the playoffs following the eight-game wrap to the regular season. Brooklyn, of course, has been without marquee 2019 free-agent signees Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving the entire season, and now is minus center DeAndre Jordan (COVID) and point guard Spencer Dinwiddie (opt out). The latter means Chiozza will be on the floor when the Nets (30-34) tip-off Friday at 2:30 p.m. against the Orlando Magic (30-35), who trail Brooklyn by a half-game in the Eastern Conference standings.
When we last saw "Cheez,: he was carding two points, seven assists, four steals and three rebounds over 23 minutes in a 104-102 road victory over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers back on March 11. The NBA announced its shutdown that night.
Chiozza, who scored 1,025 points and left UF as its all-time assists leader following his first-team All-Southeastern Conference senior season in 2018, joined the Nets midway through the season after being waived by the Washington Wizards. He's currently averaging 4.0 points, 2.3 assists, 1.7 rebounds and shooting 44 percent from the 3-point line in less than 12 minutes per game. He has a chance to pad those numbers considerably.
Good luck, Cheez!
Other former Gators in the bubble (and their first games):
| Name |
Team |
First game back |
| Corey Brewer |
Sacramento Kings |
vs San Antonio, Friday, 8 p.m. |
| Billy Donovan |
Oklahoma City Thunder |
vs Utah, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. on ESPN |
| Dorian Finney-Smith |
Dallas Mavericks |
vs Houston, Friday, 9 p.m. on ESPN |
| Michael Frazier |
Houston Rockets |
vs Dallas, Friday, 9 p.m. on ESPN |
| Udonis Haslem |
Miami Heat |
vs Denver, Saturday, 1 p.m. |
| Al Horford |
Philadelphia 76ers |
vs Indiana, Saturday, 7 p.m. |
| Joakim Noah |
LA Clippers |
vs Los Angeles Lakers, Thursday, 9 p.m. on TNT |
