Onalaska native Matt Thomas of Raptors talks social change, return of NBA

It appears that Thomas will be allowed to make his statement with the way things have gone — so far — in terms of safety inside what has come to be known as the NBA’s “bubble.”

The Raptors are one of eight teams staying at the Gran Destino Tower. The Milwaukee Bucks are another. Each has its own floor and dining area, and players are to wear masks whenever they leave their rooms.

Players were initially confined to their own hotels, but Thomas said that would eventually change to allow players from each of the three hotels to mingle if desired.

The Raptors arrived in Orlando on July 9, and he said players had to record two negative coronavirus tests 24 hours apart before ending a room quarantine instituted upon arrival. Thomas spent his initial time attempting to personalize his hotel room.

“I’m trying to come up with everything I can to make it a little more homey,” he said. “I mean, I plan to be here for three months.”

Thomas, whose team also spent two weeks in Naples, Florida, prior to Orlando because of virus issues that accompanied getting in and out of Canada, is confident in the plan pieced together by the NBA. Daily testing and the rules in place, he believes, make the bubble a safe place for everyone involved with the restart.

“The protocols in place are strict but essential,” Thomas said. “I think the league has done a very good job of setting this up.