The uptick in COVID-19 cases around the NBA this month has impacted the availability of dozens of players and has caused the league to postpone multiple games. As COVID numbers rise, the NBA is reportedly discussing modifications to its health and safety protocols with the National Basketball Players Association, including possible roster expansion options. The league saw its first confirmed case of the Omicron variant within the NBA’s player pool last week, per Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Multiple teams are dealing with outbreaks. That includes the Cleveland Cavaliers, who had five players test positive for COVID on Sunday. The Brooklyn Nets, meanwhile, have 10 players in protocol, including Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
As of Sunday, seven total games had been postponed. Five of those postponements were announced Sunday, and impact the schedules of nine different teams.
Postponed games in 2021-22 season
- Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets (Originally scheduled for Dec. 21)
- Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (Dec. 20)
- New Orleans Pelicans vs. Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 19)
- Denver Nuggets vs. Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 19)
- Atlanta Hawks vs. Cleveland Cavaliers (Dec. 19)
- Chicago Bulls vs. Toronto Raptors (Dec. 16)
- Detroit Pistons vs. Chicago Bulls (Dec. 14)
The Chicago Bulls, who did not play against the Detroit Pistons or Toronto Raptors last week, may get several players eligible to return on Sunday when they host the Los Angeles Lakers, who will have a makeshift roster themselves.
Players who are not fully vaccinated must enter health and safety protocols if they are found to be a close contact of a person who has tested positive. As of Friday, players who have not received a booster shot will be subject to tighter restrictions, including game-day testing. If any player tests positive for COVID-19, he must immediately isolate until 10 days have passed from that test or the onset of symptoms, or until he tests negative on two PCR tests 24 hours apart.
Coaching staffs are also being impacted as Lakers head coach Frank Vogel will miss Sunday’s game against the Bulls after entering protocols. Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle, Kings coach Alvin Gentry and Toronto president Masai Ujiri are also in protocols.
As far as the impact on fans, the Raptors announced Dec. 15 that they will play home games at 50 percent capacity. They are currently the only team to announce an updated arena capacity policy.
Below is a team-by-team list of players in health and safety protocols, along with the date they entered:
Players in health and safety protocols
- Brodric Thomas (Dec. 18)
- Jabari Parker (Dec. 16)
- Al Horford (Dec. 17)
- Grant Williams (Dec. 17)
- Juancho Hernangomez (Dec. 17)
Brooklyn Nets
- Kevin Durant (Dec. 18)
- Kyrie Irving (Dec. 18)
- Day’Ron Sharpe (Dec. 18)
- LaMarcus Aldridge (Dec. 14)
- DeAndre’ Bembry (Dec. 14)
- Bruce Brown (Dec. 14)
- Jevon Carter (Dec. 14)
- James Harden (Dec. 14)
- James Johnson (Dec. 14)
- Paul Millsap (Dec. 13)
Chicago Bulls
- Alize Johnson (Dec. 13)
- Troy Brown Jr. (Dec. 12)
- Zach LaVine (Dec. 12)
- Ayo Dosunmu (Dec. 11)
- Stanley Johnson (Dec. 11)
- Matt Thomas (Dec. 9; could return Sunday vs. Lakers)
- Jarrett Allen (Dec. 19)
- Lamar Stevens (Dec. 19)
- Dylan Windler (Dec. 19)
- Denzel Valentine (Dec. 19)
- RJ Nembhard (Dec. 19)
- Evan Mobley (Dec. 18)
- Isaac Okoro (Dec. 16)
- Josh Green (Dec. 19)
- Reggie Bullock (Dec. 18)
- Michael Porter Jr. (Dec. 17)
- Bol Bol (Dec. 17)
Golden State Warriors
- Marcus Morris Sr. (Dec. 18)
Los Angeles Lakers
- Kent Bazemore (Dec. 19)
- Avery Bradley (Dec. 16)
- Austin Reaves (Dec. 17)
- Talen Horton-Tucker (Dec. 14)
- Dwight Howard (Dec. 14)
Memphis Grizzlies
- Ziaire Williams (Dec. 19)
- Anthony Edwards (Dec. 17)
- Taurean Prince (Dec. 17)
- Miles McBride (Dec. 18)
- Immanuel Quickley (Dec. 17)
- Kevin Knox II (Dec. 16)
- Quentin Grimes (Dec. 14)
- R.J. Barrett (Dec. 12)
- Obi Toppin (Dec. 11)
- R.J. Hampton (Dec. 17)
- Terrence Ross (Dec. 17)
- Moe Wagner (Dec. 17)
- Andre Drummond (Dec. 19)
- Shake Milton (Dec. 19)
- Georges Niang (Dec. 15)
Sacramento Kings
- Marvin Bagley III (Dec. 15)
- Terence Davis (Dec. 15)
- De’Aaron Fox (Dec. 16)
- Alex Len (Dec. 16)
- Louis King (Dec. 16)
- Davion Mitchell (Dec. 17)
Toronto Raptors
- Pascal Siakam (Dec. 18)
- Dalano Banton (Dec. 18)