76ers star Joel Embiid dons hazmat suit for his trip to the NBA bubble in Orlando

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has traveled to the NBA’s Orlando ‘bubble’ in a hazmat suit,  after saying he ‘doesn’t trust’ fellow players to quarantine amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

The star center, 26, was pictured pulling up the hood of the protective suit as he boarded a jet out of Philadelphia with his teammates on Thursday. 

Embiid also donned a pair of a latex gloves and a matching white face mask for the flight to Florida. 

This weekend the 76ers will commence a short training camp in the Sunshine State ahead of the NBA season’s resumption on July 30. 

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid has traveled to the NBA’s Orlando ‘bubble’ in a hazmat suit, after saying he ‘doesn’t trust’ fellow players to quarantine amid the coronavirus pandemic

Embiid also donned a pair of a latex gloves and a matching white face mask for the flight to Florida

Embiid also donned a pair of a latex gloves and a matching white face mask for the flight to Florida

All remaining games for the season will be played at a ‘bubble’ of three arenas in Orlando. 

All 22 teams and their support staff will reside at three Walt Disney World resorts and travel will be severely restricted in a bid to stop players contracting COVID-19.  

According to ESPN, the NBA is also ‘providing daily coronavirus testing and other medical support’ to ensure stars remain safe and healthy. 

However, Embiid has admitted he is less-than-enthusiastic about the NBA’s new format. 

Embiid boarded a jet out of Philadelphia with his teammates on Thursday. The remaining games of the 2019-2020 season will be played in Orlanso

Embiid boarded a jet out of Philadelphia with his teammates on Thursday. The remaining games of the 2019-2020 season will be played in Orlanso

The star center, 26, was pictured pulling up the hood of the protective suit ahead of his flight to Florida

The star center, 26, was pictured pulling up the hood of the protective suit ahead of his flight to Florida 

The Cameroonian-born athlete told NBC Sports Tuesday: ‘Unfortunately, I’m not a big fan of the idea. But…  I’m going to do my job. I’m not going to let the city down. I’m going to represent my city — that’s what I’ve always done — my family, my teammates. The mindset doesn’t change. 

‘It doesn’t matter the fact that I don’t like that idea and I still don’t believe in it. I don’t think it’s going to be safe enough.’

Embiid told the network that he has been social distancing since the 2019-2020 NBA season was suspended on March 11. 

However, he doesn’t trust that other stars in the NBA have been doing the same. 

‘I know I’m going to do the right things, I know I don’t ever do anything, I only play video games, I’m always home — I don’t do anything. But then again, I don’t trust those other guys to do the same. But, like I said, I’ve gotta do my job,’ he stated. 

 

Meanwhile, a slew of other NBA stars have also expressed apprehension about the ‘bubble’ after arriving in Orlando amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Florida is now one of the worst affected states in the country, recording another  8,935 new cases on Thursday. 

233,000 Floridians have tested positive to the coronavirus since the outbreak began back in March 4,008 state residents have died. 

In addition to fears about a potential outbreak making its way into the NBA’s Orlando ‘bubble’, players have also complained about food, which is being supplied by the association. 

Chris Chiozza posted shots of his first meal inside the NBA's bubble at Disney World in Orlando

Chris Chiozza posted shots of his first meal inside the NBA’s bubble at Disney World in Orlando

Denver Nuggets guard Troy Daniels shared a snap of his dinner to social media on Tuesday evening, with fans claiming it looked like ‘airline food’.  

Brooklyn Nets star Chris Chiozza  also shared a snap of the dinnertime offerings accompanied by a crying with laughter emoji, 

‘No way Bron eating this LOL,’ Isaiah Thomas, LeBron James’s former teammate, responded on Twitter.

Meanwhile, Embiid took to social media to say he was going to lose 50 pounds after he shared a snap of the small portions following his arrival at the Walt Disney World resort.  

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is one of three Disney properties that the NBA will inhabit

The Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is one of three Disney properties that the NBA will inhabit

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk