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 six days after testing positive, provided that they are asymptomatic and not contagious.
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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 between the Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets has been 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: Doc Rivers (Philadelphia), Michael Malone (Denver), Mark Daigneault (Oklahoma City Thunder), Monty Williams (Phoenix Suns), Chauncey Billups (Portland), Frank Vogel (Los Angeles Lakers) and Billy Donovan (Chicago).
The Toronto Raptors, who have been playing home games at 50% capacity since Dec. 18, will play to even fewer fans starting Friday. That’s when, according to The Canadian Press, Ontario’s arenas, theaters and concert halls will be limited to 1,000 people or 50% capacity, whichever is less.
While limited-capacity arenas were commonplace for most of 2020-21, Scotiabank Arena is the only NBA venue to cap 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
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)
Brooklyn Nets
Kessler Edwards (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
Jeff Green (Dec. 30)Bones Hyland (Dec. 30) Zeke Nnaji (Dec. 30)
Detroit Pistons
Josh Jackson (Dec. 26)Cory Joseph (Dec. 26)
Trey Lyles (Dec. 25)Killian Hayes (Dec. 23)Saben Lee (Dec. 23)Rodney McGruder (Dec. 23)Isaiah Stewart (Dec. 23)Cade Cunningham (Dec. 22)
Golden State Warriors
James Wiseman (Dec. 29)Draymond Green (Dec. 26)Damion Lee (Dec. 22)
Houston Rockets
Jae’Sean Tate (Dec. 27)D.J. Augustin (Dec. 26)Garrison Matthews (Dec. 26)
Indiana Pacers
Malcolm Brogdon (Dec. 30)Chris Duarte (Dec. 30)Isaiah Jackson (Dec. 30)Jeremy Lamb (Dec. 29)
Los Angeles Clippers
Brandon Boston Jr. (Dec. 29)Moses Wright (Dec. 27)Jay Scrubb (Dec. 26)
Los Angeles Lakers
Memphis Grizzlies
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)Kyle Lowry (Dec. 25)
Milwaukee Bucks
Minnesota Timberwolves
D’Angelo Russell (Dec. 25)Karl-Anthony Towns (Dec. 23)McKinley Wright IV (Dec. 23)
New Orleans Pelicans
Jose Alvarado (Dec. 25)Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Dec. 23)Naji Marshall (Dec. 23)
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)Aleksej Pokusevski (Dec. 27)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)Mo Bamba (Dec. 17)
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)
Sacramento Kings
San Antonio Spurs
Devontae Cacok (Dec. 29)
Dejounte Murray (Dec. 26)
Toronto Raptors
Isaac Bonga (Dec. 25)Justin Champagnie (Dec. 25)
Washington Wizards
Spencer Dinwiddie (Dec. 30)Rui Hachimura (Dec. 28)Montrezl Harrell (Dec. 28)Thomas Bryant (Dec. 27)Anthony Gill (Dec. 27)Aaron Holiday (Dec. 27)Raul Neto (Dec. 26)Bradley Beal (Dec. 23)
