With the omicron variant rampant, NBA rosters are in flux. Since the beginning of December, more than 300 players have entered the protocols, by ESPN. Thankfully, the number of players joining the roster has dwindled in recent weeks.
In related news, as of Dec. 26, stricter protocols — stricter mask requirements, increased testing — have been in effect and any player who has not received a recall has been placed under additional off-court restrictions. Daily monitoring testing for players, coaches and “Tier 1” team staff (i.e. staff regularly within 15 feet of players) will be completed from Saturday January 15, however, according to The Athletic. More than 500 Level 1 personnel have tested positive for COVID-19 this season, according to ESPN.
Another change: some players can now clear health and safety protocols and resume play as early as five days after testing positive, provided they are asymptomatic, vaccinated, and likely non-contagious (i.e. their cycle threshold is greater than 30). Between the modified return to play policy and the new rule requiring teams to use hardship exceptions when multiple players are in protocols, the NBA aims to avoid postponing more games.
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There have been 11 postponements this season and the NBA announced the make-up dates last week. Here is a list of games that have been pushed back:
Two head coaches are in health and safety protocols: Wes Unseld Jr. (Washington Wizards) and Taylor Jenkins (Memphis Grizzlies). Washington assistant coach Pat Delany, who took over from Unseld, also joined the protocols. Assistant coach Joseph Blair will assume the duties of interim head coach.
Thirteen other 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), Dwane Casey (Detroit Pistons) and Nate McMillan (Atlanta Hawks), Mike Budenholzer (Milwaukee Bucks) and Jason Kidd (Dallas Mavericks) – came in and then endorsed protocols this season.
The Raptors played two home games in December at 50% capacity and, as of December 31, cannot allow more than 1,000 people into Scotiabank Arena, in accordance with a provincial mandate. The team expects the limit is to be in place for the first three weeks of 2022 and as such are playing in a practically 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, approximate date) they entered:
Actors of health and safety protocols
Boston Celtics
Charlotte Hornets
- Kelly Oubre Jr. (January 10)
Denver nuggets
Detroit Pistons
Los Angeles Clippers
- Justise Winslow (January 9)
- Luke Kennard (January 1)
Memphis Grizzlies
- Yves Pons (January 8)
- Killian Tillie (January 13)
Milwaukee dollars
- Langston Galloway (January 13)
Minnesota Wolves
- Jordan McLaughlin (January 16)
Oklahoma City Thunder
- Kenrich Williams (January 10)
Portland Trail Blazers
Sacramento Kings
- Robert Woodard II (January 12)
- Tyrese Haliburton (January 16)
San Antonio Spurs
Utah Jazz
- Hassan Whiteside (January 12)
- Jared Butler (January 10)
- Elijah Hughes (January 9)
