Clippers’ Paul George, NBA Colleagues, Fish While In COVID-19 Bubble

Paul George is a personal favorite basketball player of mine. Granted, I’m a longtime Golden State Warriors fan and George now plays for a division rival, the L.A. Clippers. But he’s a fellow Fresno State alum – the team wasn’t good when he played there, but he gave Bulldog fans thrills like this monster dunk – so I follow his pro career like I do anyone who played collegiately in Fresno. (He’s also from the Antelope Valley, where I lived for a few years during my Southern California days, so there’s another connection.)

Anyway, as the NBA attempts to resume its postponed by COVID-19 season by having all the remaining teams in a regular-season finale and then a playoff – without my Warriors, who struggled through a retooling season after a fantastic run of three world titles and five NBA Finals appearances in as many years – players have been training and quarantined at the Walt Disney World Resort complex in Orlando. It’s known as the NBA Bubble.

Here’s more from ESPN, which chronicled some of George’s fishing escapades while reporting on how NBA teams and other personnel are staying busy while in Orlando’s quarantine, which includes a fishing lake:

George is a long-time fisherman — a passion passed down from his father — and the Clippers went on a team fishing excursion before training camp this season. In the NBA bubble, fishing isn’t reserved for the experts, and it’s providing a bonding opportunity and challenge to players.

Fishing has emerged as a favorite pastime for many of the players in between practices and meals. But if you care to fish, go early; the property has only 14 fishing poles available to borrow from a hut outside of the players’ hotel.

On Tuesday night, an employee manning the rentals told ESPN that he had only one pole left because so many players had signed out the equipment overnight. The hotel is ordering more poles to accommodate players’ requests.

On Thursday, teammates George, Montrezl Harrell and Reggie Jackson fished from the wooden bridge that passes over Lago Dorado in search of bass.

Here’s to George catching a few fish, staying safe and – why not – winning his first NBA title in this very strange time for all of us.