With the omicron variant running rampant, NBA rosters are in flux. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and Dallas Mavericks big man Kristaps Porzingis are among the many players in the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Since the beginning of December, more than 300 players have entered protocols, per ESPN.
In related news, since Dec. 26, tighter protocols — stricter mask requirements, increased testing — have been in effect. These rules will be in place until the All-Star break in mid-February, and any player who has not received a booster shot will be subject to additional off-court restrictions.
Another change: Some players can now clear health and safety protocols and return to play as soon as five days after testing positive, provided that they are asymptomatic, vaccinated and likely not contagious (i.e. their cycle threshold is above 30). Between the tweaked return-to-play policy and the new rule mandating teams to use hardship exceptions when multiple players are in protocols, the NBA is aiming to avoid postponing more games.
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There have been 11 postponements this season, and the NBA announced makeup dates last week. Here’s a list of the games that were pushed back:
Four head coaches are in health and safety protocols: Dwane Casey (Detroit Pistons), Taylor Jenkins (Memphis Grizzlies), Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks) and Mike Budenholzer (Milwaukee Bucks).
Eleven more coaches — Doc Rivers (Philadelphia 76ers), Chauncey Billups (Portland Trail Blazers), Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers), Alvin Gentry (Sacramento Kings), Frank Vogel (Los Angeles Lakers), Billy Donovan (Chicago Bulls), Monty Williams (Phoenix Suns), Tyronn Lue (Los Angeles Clippers), Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder), Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets) and Nate McMillan (Atlanta Hawks) — have entered and subsequently cleared protocols this season.
The Raptors played two December home games at 50% capacity and, as of Dec. 31, can allow no more than 1,000 people to enter Scotiabank Arena, per a provincial mandate. The team expects the limit to be in place for the next three weeks, and, as such, are playing in a virtually empty arena.
Below is a regularly updated, team-by-team list of players in health and safety protocols, along with the date (or, in some cases, the approximate date) they entered:
Players in health and safety protocols
Boston Celtics
Payton Pritchard (Jan. 5)
Charlotte Hornets
Kelly Oubre Jr. (Jan. 10)Vernon Carey Jr. (Jan. 1)
Chicago Bulls
Dallas Mavericks
Kristaps Porzingis (Jan. 3)
Detroit Pistons
Denver Nuggets
Houston Rockets
Indiana Pacers
Justin Anderson (Jan. 7)Goga Bitadze (Jan. 2)Caris LeVert (Jan. 2)T.J. Warren (Jan. 2)
Los Angeles Clippers
Justise Winslow (Jan. 9)Luke Kennard (Jan. 1)
Memphis Grizzlies
Miami Heat
Markieff Morris (Jan. 10)
Milwaukee Bucks
George Hill (Jan. 5)
Grayson Allen (Jan. 4)
Minnesota Timberwolves
Oklahoma City Thunder
Kenrich Williams (Jan. 10)Isaiah Roby (Jan. 5)
Philadelphia 76ers
Paul Reed (Jan. 4)Tyrese Maxey (Jan. 3)
Phoenix Suns
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
Damian Jones (Jan. 9)Richaun Holmes (Jan. 1)
San Antonio Spurs
Tre Jones (Jan. 7)Keldon Johnson (Jan. 6)Devin Vassell (Jan. 6)
Derrick White (Jan. 6)Thaddeus Young (Jan. 6)
Doug McDermott (Jan. 1)
Utah Jazz
Jared Butler (Jan. 10)Rudy Gay (Jan. 9)Elijah Hughes Jan. 9)Rudy Gobert (Jan. 6)
