When I wake up in the morning, I want to write something. That's what I do in the morning. I forgot to bring my notebook, so I'm going to the car to get my backpack (notebook in bag). I also ordered a package (for storing grain) from Whole Foods, so I stopped by the front desk when I came back to pick it up. When I got back to the apartment, I got a call from the apartment property: "We've seen news reports that four Nets players have covid-19. Can you not come to the hall? ”
If I don't go through the hall, how can I get out of this building?
I've been self-isolating since two days ago. I decided to stay in my apartment in New York. I considered going back to Michigan, but staying here was best for my family. Going back wasn't worth it, there was a risk of travel and infection, and there was a good chance my grandmother would be infected – because older people have weaker immune systems and are susceptible to the coronavirus. So that's something I'm worried about.
It's not very accurate to say that it's like an offseason. It's weird, because it's like the offseason now because we don't have to do anything, but mentally speaking, it's not. It's not offseason because there's so much going on about the virus right now.
I'm reading a book called Lonely Brothers: Letters from George Jackson in Prison. This George Jackson was a former petty criminal who moved from Chicago to California as a child. Jailed for robbery at gunpoint, he later self-reflected, has been teaching himself politics and understanding the world, and eventually became an active participant in prison reform, eventually being killed by the guards of St Quentin prison while trying to escape.
I've been thinking about the people who are being held right now. Growing up, I went to prison from my father to several different family members and friends, and I heard about prison from them. Just a month ago, before the coronavirus, inmates in a prison in Alabama died of poor living conditions. With that in mind, look at the people on the streets right now who can't be tested (I'm talking about people who aren't in prison). What can those prisoners do? They were treated like people of the third, sixth, ninth, and so on, and had no rights. When I think of these people, I feel anxious, because rightly or wrongly, they are at least human beings.
I talk to my friends in group chats. I have a lot of different groups (some of which have existed before) that are now all about COVID-19, restaurant closures, and the possibility that the entire state will be quarantined. I chatted with my friends and talked about other things, things to relax like Jay Electronica's new album. To be honest, I loved it. Like a lot of people, I'm a huge fan of Jay-Z and I'm a fan of Jay Electronica. Like everyone else, I've been waiting for his new book to be released. I think it's going to be different from the existing music, and from that point of view, I think it's going to be an uplifting piece. I'll listen to it as soon as it's posted.
For the first time, I had such a long thinking time. After this morning's "can't go to the hall" incident, I sat down and thought about it. No matter what you believe, no matter what your religious beliefs or spiritual beliefs are, I think people need to spend more time looking inside in something like thinking.
I reconnected with art. I had a great conversation with Elliott Perry, a former NBA player who recently retired as one of the small shareholders of the Memphis Grizzlies. We called to talk about art. He is a veteran art collector, and I have learned more about the industry over the past few years. So, on the phone, I was just talking to him about some of his thoughts on art appreciation. It's exciting to have someone who once played in the NBA and is still in the NBA as a team owner to share that knowledge with me.
My 11-year-old daughter has been hammering his dad in Fortnite. I played this game with my daughter and her little cousin. I'm a basketball player, so I'm a little competitive by nature. I was shot and killed in the game, and I needed one of them to revive me. But they all said, "Lick his bag!"
As they licked the bag, I said, "Who can resurrect me?"
I laughed with them in my headphones. The joy of children is simple. Anything that makes them laugh can make me happy too.
I'm fine now and my home is fine. I hope you do too. As players, when we see people like Blake Griffin, Zehn or Kevin Love who have pledged to donate to the stadium staff, it's absolutely admirable. Of course, there are also people on social media who say, "Players should do more." ”
And others will say, "Players shouldn't do that." Team owners should do that because they're billionaires. ”
I just think everyone should be involved – not necessarily having to be rich. Rich people can donate, and if they are too tight on hand, they can at least contribute by maintaining their own hygiene. Everyone can play a part in the fight against the pandemic.