Of the 492 NBA players tested for COVID-19 since April 28, four players have registered new confirmed positive tests, the league and the players’ union announced today in a press release.
The NBA and NBPA don’t publicly disclose which specific players test positive for the coronavirus. However, Lakers guard Dennis Schröder and Hornets forward Miles Bridges have each entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols this week and were ruled out for 10-to-14 days, which is typically the projected timeline associated with a positive test. They may be two of the four affected players, though that’s not confirmed.
The NBA has been able to keep the virus relatively in check during the past couple months, having not had a game postponed due to COVID-19 since prior to the All-Star break in early March.
Still, it’s worth noting that this week’s four positive tests represent the highest weekly total among players since March 3. The league will hope to see that number trending downward next week, with the postseason around the corner.
These restrictions have actually helped the Rockets this season in their attempt to win a top-4 pick in the upcoming draft. They are likely to have to use a 7-man rotation tonight for the second time in the last 12 days. This will mark the 13th time this season they had just nine of fewer players available for a game. Without being so short-handed the vast majority of the season there’s no way the Rockets would have been able to lose 50 games like they’re about to tonight against Philly.
Probably all LeBron, he’s a bum