12:51pm: KJ Martin is now listed on the Rockets’ injury report as self-isolating and not with the team, tweets MacMahon. The contact tracing is related to Martin’s test results, Wojnarowski confirms (via Twitter).
As Woj explains (via Twitter), a group of Rockets players, including Martin, Wall, and Cousins, were away from the team facility at an apartment getting haircuts. Since Martin tested positive, contact tracing is required for others who were there – including Wall and Cousins – as the team waits for confirmation on Martin’s test result.
Wall and Cousins have both tested negative, Woj adds (Twitter link). Meanwhile, Jae’Sean Tate has also been sent home for contact tracing, tweets MacMahon.
12:25pm: Wall tested negative for the coronavirus but is among a group of Rockets sent home because a teammate tested positive, sources tell Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN (Twitter links). Woj adds that Ben McLemore tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago but has been in isolation and isn’t the player whose positive test initiated today’s contact tracing.
Meanwhile, Sam Amick of The Athletic clarifies (via Twitter) that the contact tracing isn’t tied to Harden, while Tim Bontemps of ESPN tweets that the Thunder haven’t received any communication from the NBA about the status of tonight’s game.
11:47am: Several Rockets players are expected to miss the season opener tonight because of COVID-19 contact tracing, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. Charania mentions John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins and says other players could also be affected.
Although Charania doesn’t specify, the action could be related to an investigation into James Harden‘s apparent visit to a strip club. NBA officials are examining a video on social media to determine if it was recent, making it a violation of the league’s health and safety protocols.
Harden published – and later deleted – an Instagram story claiming that the video in question wasn’t from a strip club, but it would still be a violation of the NBA’s protocols, which prohibit players from visiting bars, lounges, and clubs, notes Tim MacMahon of ESPN (Twitter links).
Information on who else will miss tonight’s game against the Thunder should become available later today, but the news delays a return for two players who have been sidelined with major injuries. Wall hasn’t played in two years because of a ruptured Achilles tendon, while Cousins sat out all of last season with a torn ACL in his left knee.
Hey westbrook mvp u still betting Rockets moneyline against the “lowly” Thunder lol
I have them -4.5 and am confident.
Just suspend him already.
Rockets are becoming the team everybody loves to hate. I don’t think it’s fair
Seems completely fair to me. Rockets basketball has been the ugliest, most depressing form of professional sports for years now. NBA fans hated them long before the current attempt by Harden to get out of town.
Yeah. Because they’re the ONLY team that focuses on 3’s and layups/dunks. Analytics are around the whole league. They’ve been doing it the longest, but most teams play somewhat similar. Just admit you hate the Rockets instead of all that nonsense you managed to type up.
Becoming? They have been for quite some time. Everybody loves to hate a winner. This is so typical, just like what happened in the bubble with House.
They really haven’t been, it wasn’t until you and your obsession with whomever they get.
A winner that hasn’t made the Finals in 25 years.
Only won cause Jordan was playing baseball. If he was in the league they’d have NONE
Wrong. Rockets over Bulls in 7 in 1994. Also, he WAS in league in 1995 and don’t bother using the “rusty” excuse.
Lol. The Delusion is strong in this dude
The irony. Only people don’t know or understand basketball would discredit the Rockets championships the way you did.
Lol. Ok everyone who understands basketball knows Jordan is the best of all time and the way you act like him not being in the league wasn’t a factor shows how delusional you really are
Everyone who understands basketball knows Jordan is the GOAT AND would NEVER discredit the Rockets championships. Find me a single player past or present that discredits them, questions their credibility, etc. I’ll wait. Like I said: the irony in you calling me delusional.
I can’t with u anymore. Hang ur hat on those chips bud. The best player in his prime wasn’t there to make u a 2 time finals loser. Ur finals are tainted in everyone’s eyes outside of Houston. I respect Hakeem but more unstoppable than MJ he is not. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see a finals battle between the 2. But I’m sure if u posed the question to most players and experts 90% are picking MJand the bulls
No one hates the Rockets because they’re winners…lmao..
They havent wont anything lately, except the award for the team most likely to disappoint comes playoff time..
People hate the Rockets, because they were terrible to watch..Namely, people hate the rockets because of James Harden and his “style of basketball” he was playing..
And people dislike Harden because he was so selfish with the ball, because he blamed everyone else for his failures, and because he flails and flips around the court trying to influence the refs into giving him calls…
It really isn’t that complicated..They’re certainly no Duke nor the Yankees..
even if house didn’t get kicked from da bubble they’d still lose da series to da lakers
I feel sorry for them and their fans. Watching your team self destruct because one player wants to be the only thing that matters. Its not the fans fault. It is the owners and former GM fault. Other rocket players are not to blame.
It doesn’t stop at the Rockets. #Astros
According to woj
One Rockets player tested Covid positive
IMO
All Rockets players should not play tonight
What is your solution?
This is ridiculous that Harden can be main reason for this. I am sorry I have lost all respect for him. What will be next Harden banned for season. Ha, ha.
I am sorry to feel this way with Harden as this season coming into play. I would feel for any team getting a Harden would he continue the behavior or if a team he could be happier with change his attitude
This covid thing will never resolve. There was never any resolution to influenza or a “cure” and was generally something we dealt with every year for the last hundred years
The flu…
A) we never got in front of it from the inception.
B) it’s not something that all folks will run out to get a shot, whereas COVID-19 is a bit more impactful, thus more participation and possible reduction/impact.
Imo we just need to go back to work, destroying our economy isn’t worth it. Those at high risk should stay home but for large majority we need to get back to work and stay healthy both with human interaction and by working out.
Right. Good luck with that.
All these arm chair scientists…
well its mutating another sign that dat the pandemic may not end in 2021 or even 2022 who knows?
Rockets did not get any quality offer for Harden
They planned to trade $1.00 for $1.50
Teams offer them 0.50
The difference is $1
Harden contract is ’$200,000,000
$1 on $200.000.000 is nothing
I like lamp.
Reading that is like watching a drunk driver careen down the highway. You don’t know where he is going and you don’t know the route he will take, but you are really sure that it will not be an enjoyable trip for anyone involved.
Damn, I did an alt spread prop on Thunder -12.5 that pays 10x bet literally seconds after I heard about the Harden thing. More players out for the Rockets making this bet look awesome. Hope they get this game in for a little pre-Christmas stimulus package.
What happened to the article the other day about Harden wanting to be a professional focused on this season and winning? I don’t think infecting your teammates after going to a strip club is professional or helps winning.
C’mon dude!
At least he ain’t infecting them with an STD… now that would be serious, right?
Black Ace57 It’s pretty obvious he doesn’t actually want to be there any longer. Wouldn’t doubt he honestly just doesn’t care as much anymore and is just waiting to be traded. Of course he’s not gonna say that though.
Harden is a selfish moron. I hope he never wins a title.
#FreeTheBeard
They couldn’t even get past the jazz and SuperSonics with a better team. Jordan beat em all in under 7 games
Rockets beat the Jazz in 1994 and 1995. Sonics beat the Rockets in 1993 and later lost to the Suns that same posteason who, by the way, lost to the Rockets in 1994 and 1995. Match ups are important. Rockets were a terrbile match up for Jordan.
Not Jordan’s fault he couldn’t hand the rockets a L in the finals. They couldn’t make it. He was there his final 6 full years with the bulls. Rockets were at home watching him
Not the Rockets fault Jordan gambled and needed a break from the game while his father was killed. Rockets in 7 in 1994. Sweep in 1995 if Grant still goes to Orlando and they can’t find a good replacement. Right now, you’re as bad as Harden (MVP), Wall and Wood.
Is this Kenny smith?
No, this (me) is some one who actually knows what he’s talking about.
Do ya bud? Do ya? U sound like someone who thinks Jordan isn’t the goat. Hakeem while I’ll acknowledge his greatness and would put in my top 15 of all time isn’t on MJs level
Every hoops fan in the world knows that Larry Bird, Magic & LBJ are better than Jordan as a matter of fact!
End of the discussion!
Great point. You and go astros sound very knowledgeable about the game of basketball
CAP. tbh i feel like da goat is either kobe or mj
KJ Martin’s first test may have been a false positive.
Please go ahead and blame Harden even though it has nothing to do with him.
how false positive. u sound like dis coronavirus thing isnt a serious thing. lmao u rememeber gobert literally got covid on his own due to his own stubborn understanding of da disease. harden is almost as selfish as gobert by going to a strip club for a party.