With the omicron variant running rampant, NBA rosters are in flux. Among the many players to enter the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols recently are New York Knicks forward Julius Randle, Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green. In related news, since Dec. 26, tighter protocols — stricter mask requirements, increased testing — have been in effect. These rules will be in place until Jan. 8.
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).
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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 games. Despite this, Thursday’s scheduled game between the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets was postponed because Denver did not have the required eight players.
There have been 11 postponements this season:
Golden State Warriors at Denver Nuggets (originally scheduled for Dec. 30)Miami Heat at San Antonio Spurs (Dec. 29)Brooklyn Nets at Portland Trail Blazers (Dec. 23)Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls (Dec. 22)Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 21)
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (Dec. 20)New Orleans Pelicans at Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 19)Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 19)Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks (Dec. 19)Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors (Dec. 16)Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls (Dec. 14)
Seven coaches are in health and safety protocols: Tyronn Lue (Los Angeles Clippers), Doc Rivers (Philadelphia), Michael Malone (Denver), Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder), Monty Williams (Phoenix Suns), Chauncey Billups (Portland), and Billy Donovan (Chicago). Three more coaches — Rick Carlisle (Indiana Pacers) and Alvin Gentry (Sacramento Kings) and Frank Vogel (Los Angeles Lakers) — cleared protocols in December.
The Raptors, who played two recent home games at 50% capacity, can allow no more than 1,000 people to enter Scotiabank Arena as of Dec. 31, per a provincial mandate. The team expects the limit to be in place for the next three weeks. While limited-capacity arenas were commonplace for most of 2020-21, this is the only instance of capped attendance this season.
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
Atlanta Hawks
Malcolm Hill (Dec. 31)Bogdan Bogdanovic (Dec. 28)Gorgui Dieng (Dec. 28)
Malik Ellison (Dec. 28)
Delon Wright (Dec. 27)Jalen Johnson (Dec. 26)
John Collins (Dec. 26)Onyeka Okongwu (Dec. 25)
Sharife Cooper (Dec. 23)
Kevin Huerter (Dec. 22)Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (Dec. 22)Danilo Gallinari (Dec. 21)
Boston Celtics
Jayson Tatum (Dec. 27)Dennis Schroder (Dec. 25)Bruno Fernando (Dec. 24)Aaron Nesmith (Dec. 24)
Enes Kanter Freedom (Dec. 23)
Charlotte Hornets
Scottie Lewis (Dec. 27)Miles Bridges (Dec. 26)PJ Washington (Dec. 26)
Chicago Bulls
Marko Simonovic (Dec. 29)Ersan Ilyasova (Dec. 28)Lonzo Ball (Dec. 26)Tony Bradley (Dec. 26)Alfonzo McKinnie (Dec. 26)
Cleveland Cavaliers
Darius Garland (Dec. 28)Cedi Osman (Dec. 25)
Dallas Mavericks
Isaiah Thomas (Dec. 30)Brandon Knight (Dec. 29)Boban Marjanovic (Dec. 29)JaQuori McLaughlin (Dec. 23)
Luka Doncic (Dec. 22)Trey Burke (Dec. 22)Tim Hardaway Jr. (Dec. 21)Maxi Kleber (Dec. 20)
Denver Nuggets
Monte Morris (Dec. 31)Jeff Green (Dec. 30)Bones Hyland (Dec. 30) Zeke Nnaji (Dec. 30)
Detroit Pistons
Golden State Warriors
James Wiseman (Dec. 29)Draymond Green (Dec. 26)Damion Lee (Dec. 22)
Houston Rockets
DeJon Jarreau (Dec. 30)D.J. Augustin (Dec. 26)Garrison Mathews (Dec. 26)
Indiana Pacers
Kelan Martin (Dec. 31)Malcolm Brogdon (Dec. 30)Chris Duarte (Dec. 30)Isaiah Jackson (Dec. 30)Jeremy Lamb (Dec. 29)
Los Angeles Clippers
Ivica Zubac (Dec. 30)Brandon Boston Jr. (Dec. 29)Jay Scrubb (Dec. 26)
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
Shaq Buchanan (Dec. 31)Xavier Tillman (Dec. 30)John Konchar (Dec. 28)Dillon Brooks (Dec. 26)De’Anthony Melton (Dec. 26)Jarrett Culver (Dec. 23)
Miami Heat
Marcus Garrett (Dec. 30)Duncan Robinson (Dec. 30)Max Strus (Dec. 29)P.J. Tucker (Dec. 29) Gabe Vincent (Dec. 29) Zylan Cheatham (Dec. 29)
Udonis Haslem (Dec. 28)
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
D’Angelo Russell (Dec. 25)Karl-Anthony Towns (Dec. 23)McKinley Wright IV (Dec. 23)
New Orleans Pelicans
Jonas Valanciunas (Dec. 31)
New York Knicks
Julius Randle (Dec. 30)Wayne Selden (Dec. 28)Jericho Sims (Dec. 25)Nerlens Noel (Dec. 22)
Oklahoma City Thunder
Josh Giddey (Dec. 28)Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Dec. 27)Aaron Wiggins (Dec. 27)
Darius Bazley (Dec. 26)
Orlando Magic
Robin Lopez (Dec. 30)Hassani Gravett (Dec. 28)Chuma Okeke (Dec. 26)Mychal Mulder (Dec. 22)
Philadelphia 76ers
Tyler Johnson (Dec. 30)Myles Powell (Dec. 30)Danny Green (Dec. 22)
Phoenix Suns
JaVale McGee (Dec. 30)Abdel Nader (Dec. 29)Deandre Ayton (Dec. 27)Jae Crowder (Dec. 26)
Portland Trail Blazers
Anfernee Simons (Dec. 30)Brandon Williams (Dec. 30)Jusuf Nurkic (Dec. 26)Cody Zeller (Dec. 26)
Robert Covington (Dec. 25)Keljin Blevins (Dec. 25)Trendon Watford (Dec. 24)
San Antonio Spurs
Devontae Cacok (Dec. 29)
Dejounte Murray (Dec. 26)
Toronto Raptors
D.J. Wilson (Dec. 31)Isaac Bonga (Dec. 25)
Washington Wizards
Brad Wanamaker (Dec. 31)Spencer Dinwiddie (Dec. 30)Rui Hachimura (Dec. 28)Montrezl Harrell (Dec. 28)Thomas Bryant (Dec. 27)Aaron Holiday (Dec. 27)Raul Neto (Dec. 26)
