Much like last year, COVID-19 is having an impact on the current NBA season. A plethora of players from across the league’s landscape have been forced to miss time as a result of being placed in the league’s health and safety protocols after returning a positive test. After a player tests positive, he must isolate away from the team for 10 days or return two negative PCR tests in a 24-hour period before they can get back to action.
Unlike last year, the NBA hasn’t had to postpone any games this season due to teams not having enough healthy players available. The Charlotte Hornets and Chicago Bulls, however, have both been hit hard recently. Both teams have five players in protocols, including potential All-Stars LaMelo Ball and DeMar DeRozan. As a result of these absences and injuries to Patrick Williams and Alex Caruso, the Bulls used a hardship exemption to sign Stanley Johnson to a 10-day contract on Thursday. They could sign another player, too.
Grizzlies star Ja Morant is in the protocols despite already being out indefinitely with a knee sprain. Also joining the list is Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle, who could miss Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, which was supposed to be his first matchup with the team he coached for 13 years since they parted ways in the offseason.
Though he isn’t a player, the Toronto Raptors were hit hard on Thursday when they announced that team president Masai Ujiri had tested positive for COVID. He caught the virus at a Giants of Africa event on Sunday, he said in a statement. Ujiri is fully vaccinated and has received a booster shot, but he will still be following the league’s protocols and quarantining. The Raptors canceled practice Wednesday reportedly in an abundance of caution.
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It can be a lot to keep track of, but we’re here to help. Below you’ll find a list of all the players currently in the NBA’s protocols, along with how long they’re expected to be out.
- Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies — Already sidelined indefinitely with left knee sprain
- Dillon Brooks, Memphis Grizzlies — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 19
- LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 15
- DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 16
- Terry Rozier, Charlotte Hornets — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 15
- Ish Smith, Charlotte Hornets — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 15
- Mason Plumlee, Charlotte Hornets — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 15
- Jalen McDaniels, Charlotte Hornets — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 15
- Coby White, Chicago Bulls — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 14
- Javonte Green, Chicago Bulls — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 14
- Austin Rivers, Denver Nuggets — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 8
- Justin Holiday, Indiana Pacers — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 10
- Matt Thomas, Chicago Bulls — Expected to be out until at least Dec. 18
- Derrick Jones Jr., Chicago Bulls
- Josh Richardson, Boston Celtics