#Nets big man Jarrett Allen: NBA bubble will bring ‘level of hardship’

Jarrett Allen admits there’s no way the NBA can ensure every player adheres to safety protocols once the league restarts in Orlando. Simply put, there’s going to be a personal risk of contracting COVID-19, but it’s a risk the Nets center is willing to take.

“It’s going to be 310 players or something like that. Take NBA players out of it: That’s a lot of people to make sure you have complete control and complete guidelines over. Then you add the NBA aspect, a bunch of grown men in this situation. We have our needs, we have our wants, and you know how we are,” Allen said with a smile. “I agree there’s going to be some level of hardship like Dame [Damian Lillard] said.”

A total of 25 of the 351 players tested since June 23 have turned up positive, including teammates Spencer Dinwiddie and DeAndre Jordan, who has ruled himself out of the restart, but Allen is committed to playing.

“For everybody, including myself, it’s a little bit of worry. We’re all going to an unknown,” Allen said. “But at the end of the day, I have no doubt the two powerhouses — Disney and the NBA — are coming up with the best solution for us. Obviously, there’s a little doubt in my mind; we’re all human. But I’m confident.

“I did question myself whether it’s worth risking my health. But at the end of the day, weighing the options, it’s better for me to go.”

If Allen — whose name will come up in offseason trade rumors for a third star — opted out, the Nets would be decimated.

Still, despite starting 58 of Brooklyn’s 64 games, Allen was just seventh in minutes, while Jordan was eighth. And Allen had lost his grip on the center spot, out of the lineup in the final two games and sitting out fourth quarters since the start of February.

Former coach Kenny Atkinson’s decision to start Allen over Jordan was believed to be a bone of contention. But over the final 15 games, Jordan was second on the team in fourth-quarter minutes (110) while Allen was last among rotation players (39).

Once the Nets parted ways with Atkinson, interim coach Jacque Vaughn’s first move was yanking Allen from the lineup. Now his team is without Jordan, Kevin Durant, Nic Claxton and Wilson Chandler, leaving Allen the only true big man, backed up by 6-foot-9, 228-pound Rodions Kurucs.

“There is some pressure. I don’t want to say I’m the last big standing, as bad as that sounds. There’s some pressure for me to be able to stay healthy and help the team succeed,” Allen said.

“I’ve been in this position before. … Rookie year I was the main big playing, then last year when Ed [Davis] got hurt I had the load, and this year this happened. I just need to come out and prove I’m able to play at this level again.”