Hector only took a week off before resuming training. Currently, Hector is 2m18 and 118 kg tall. This weight is not trivial; according to his Body Mass Index, it is his ideal weight so that he does not lose his speed while gaining muscle mass. Strength, vertical jump, speed, and progress come from accumulating small things.
Isolation and fatigue. During the bubble, the mental health of the players was questioned. As strange as it may seem, playing in the NBA is a job. A job certainly well paid, but a job all the same, with the hassles that sometimes accompany it. For some, money may have difficulty compensating for the lack of consideration and humanism or living away from one's family for a large part of the year.
That feeling? It has increased tenfold this summer for some, with the implementation of this anti-COVID bubble. A bubble that also had to be anti-family, anti-friends, anti-any concrete social interaction, the price to propose an end-of-season without sanitary blunder. A rather exceptional complex was then set up, seen from the outside as a real paradise for the basketball player in the open air.
But inside, some bite their nails. There is no wife, children, friends, family, or the only link outside... Smartphones and necessarily breaking news are far from being intoxicating. Because beyond the simple health context, the Black Lives Matter movement is on everyone's lips. For a majority of players, it is even a priority in Orlando.
Hector, of serene nature, had to leave his pregnant wife at home. The only means of contact was the telephone. No one in mind could take this situation on the right footing. The best moment of his season was when it ended, so it is for many players. Paul George and Jaylen Brown spoke on this subject.
On September 22, Hector became a father. The twins are named Heriberto and Heriberta. Seen from the name, the sex of both is apparent. Jackpot has two for the price of one. From Belinda's point of view, this is the best option. As a basketball player, she can't afford several more births.
Obstacles persist to the decision of maternity: fear of alterations in performance, a lack of support from the technical staff who prioritize performance issues, fear of the athlete of a "break" with her sporting environment, or even the perception of abandonment of teammates in team sports.
Having your kids at this point in your life, before the WNBA and during the COVID shutdown, couldn't be better. The pace of the NCAA schedule is less intense than the NBA and requires less travel which is a good deal.
The resumption will have consequences for the 2020-21 season. There will be 71 games in the regular season. The regular season was initially scheduled to begin on October 21, 2020, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic in North America, it started on December 22, 2020. The Toronto Raptors are relocated to Tampa, Florida.
For the second consecutive season, the NBA is hosting a Play-in tournament, but this time for franchises ranked 7th to 10th in each conference. This mini single-game knockout tournament is held from May 18 to 21, 2021, and determines the last franchises qualified for the playoffs.
Luke Wharton was sent back to the Kings' bench. But it needs to be in a safe place. This is his last year of contract with the Kings, and Monte McNair is waiting to see before acting.
The ever-loyal Kings fans got used to the loss. The mood around the franchise calmed down a bit thanks to Bagley's departure to the dressing room, but McNair didn't understand the whole situation.
The Kings players are back with new intentions, but the evils remain unchanged. Luke will be the first to suffer the consequences.
(PS: The sophomore season starts from this chapter and the second part of the first volume. There will be more downs than ups, but I wish Hector a happy new year and a long life for the twins. LONG LIVE FOR THE TWINS AND LONG LIVE TO THE KINGS)
(AND PLEASE RATE MY BOOK. THANK YOU)