NBA COVID tracker: Warmth’s Tyler Herro enters protocols; Wizards’ Unseld Jr. clears protocols, returns to bench

With the omicron variant operating rampant, NBA rosters are in flux. Because the starting of December, greater than 300 gamers have entered protocols, per ESPN. Fortunately, the variety of gamers becoming a member of the checklist has decreased in current weeks. 

In associated information, since Dec. 26, tighter protocols — stricter masks necessities, elevated testing — have been in impact and any participant who has not obtained a booster shot has been topic to further off-court restrictions. Every day surveillance testing for gamers, coachers and “tier 1” staff staffers (i.e. personnel usually inside 15 ft of the gamers) will likely be over as of Saturday, Jan. 15, nonetheless, according to The Athletic. Greater than 500 tier 1 staffers have examined optimistic for COVID-19 this season, in response to ESPN.

One other change: Some gamers can now clear well being and security protocols and return to play as quickly as 5 days after testing optimistic, supplied that they’re asymptomatic, vaccinated and sure not contagious (i.e. their cycle threshold is above 30). Between the tweaked return-to-play coverage and the new rule mandating groups to make use of hardship exceptions when a number of gamers are in protocols, the NBA is aiming to keep away from suspending extra video games. 

There have been 11 postponements this season, and the NBA introduced make-up dates final week. This is an inventory of the video games that have been pushed again:

One head coach is in well being and security protocols: Taylor Jenkins (Memphis Grizzlies). Washington’s assistant coach Pat Delany, who took over for Wes Unseld Jr. whereas he was within the league’s well being and security protocols, also joined protocols. 

Fourteen extra coaches — Wes Unseld Jr. (Washington Wizards), Doc Rivers (Philadelphia 76ers), Chauncey Billups (Portland Path 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 Metropolis Thunder), Michael Malone (Denver Nuggets), Dwane Casey (Detroit Pistons) and Nate McMillan (Atlanta Hawks), Mike Budenholzer (Milwaukee Bucks) and Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks) — have entered and subsequently cleared protocols this season.  

The Raptors performed two December house video games at 50% capability and, as of Dec. 31, can permit not more than 1,000 folks to enter Scotiabank Area, per a provincial mandate. The team expects the restrict to be in place for the primary three weeks of 2022, and, as such, are taking part in in a virtually empty arena.

Under is a usually up to date, team-by-team checklist of gamers in well being and security protocols, together with the date (or, in some circumstances, the approximate date) they entered:

Gamers in well being and security protocols

Boston Celtics

Denver Nuggets

Los Angeles Lakers

• Sekou Doumbouya (Jan. 18)

Memphis Grizzlies

• Desmond Bane (Jan. 18)
• Kyle Anderson (Jan. 18)
• Killian Tillie (Jan. 13)

Miami Warmth

Tyler Herro (Jan. 19)

Minnesota Timberwolves

• Jordan McLaughlin  (Jan. 16)

Portland Path Blazers

San Antonio Spurs

Utah Jazz

• Hassan Whiteside (Jan. 12)