NBA, NBPA announce initial COVID-19 positive cases originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Everyone knew that life outside the NBA bubble would be bumpy.
And with less than three weeks until the scheduled regular-season opener and nine days until the preseason is supposed to tip off, the NBA and NBPA announced Wednesday evening that 48 of 546 players have tested positive for COVID-19.
While both the league and players association knew the initial round of testing from Nov. 24-30 would produce multiple positive tests as players returned to home markets, the 8.8 percent positivity rate underscores the challenges ahead. In the league's first round of testing before the 2019-20 season restart in late June, 16 of 302 tested players (5.3 percent) returned positive results.
"We’re sticking to protocols and we’re very careful because I think what will be very important for our season will be availability," Bulls executive vice president Artūras Karnišovas said Tuesday. "Staying safe and available will be the key. So daily discipline for our players and our staff is going to be very important.’’
Players began daily testing as they returned to their home markets in advance of individual workouts taking place at team facilities this week. Group practices can begin as early as Sunday.
According to the joint news release from the NBA and NBPA, any player who tested positive "is isolated until they are cleared for leaving isolation under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association in accordance with CDC guidelines." According to a 134-page document distributed to all teams and obtained by multiple media outlets, that includes producing either two consecutive negative results from PCR tests given at least 24 hours apart or waiting 10 days from the positive test result.
The Golden State Warriors delayed the start of their individual workout sessions until Wednesday and their first group practice until Monday after general manager Bob Myers said two players tested positive. Washington Wizards coach Scott Brooks also disclosed that one of his players tested positive. And Orlando Magic coach Steve Clifford said center Mo Bamba, who tested positive in June, has no timetable for a return.
All in all, the initial round of testing mirrors the challenges that other professional and collegiate sports seasons have faced. Unlike in the NFL, though, NBA teams play more than one game a week and travel much more frequently while playing an indoor sport.
The 134-page safety protocol document explicitly stated that teams are almost certain to have to endure positive test results.
"The guys know things that need to be done, but we just need to be diligent to stay on top of those things because obviously it's a challenging time not only for us but for everybody," Bulls coach Billy Donovan said Tuesday.
