Mike Conley Jr. leaving NBA bubble before playoffs for son’s birth

Utah Jazz guard Michael Conley is leaving the bubble. 

As the Utah Jazz are set to tip off their first playoff game on Monday afternoon against the Denver Nuggets, they will need to find a way to win without star guard Mike Conley.

It was announced today that Conley left the bubble this morning in order to travel to Columbus so that he can be present for the birth of his son.

With Conley leaving the bubble, it practically guarantees that he will miss the entire first round playoff series, even if it goes seven games.

If a player decides to leave the NBA bubble, he is required to quarantine for 10-14 days upon returning, meaning that even if the Jazz’s series against the Nuggets goes to a Game 7, which would take place on Aug. 29, Conley may still be in quarantine depending on how long he’s required to isolate and how long he stays in Columbus.

Conley has been a great player for the Jazz and his production will be missed 

This is certainly not an ideal way for the Jazz to start the playoffs given that they are the underdog coming in as the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, while the Nuggets are coming in as the No. 3 seed in the West. 

In the Jazz’s first game in the bubble, Conley did not fare well only scoring 12 points. But he then put up 24, 23, and then 20 points respectively in the next three games.

Conley’s absence will significantly hurt the Jazz’s chances to pull off an upset in the first round, but the birth of his son is certainly a moment that cannot be missed.