(New York) On Thursday night, T-Wolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns became the most recent case of an NBA star player on the sidelines, due to the league’s COVID-19 protocol.
Minnesota has seven players on the sidelines for this reason including their two best scorers, Towns and Anthony Edwards, first choice in the 2020 draft.
Towns has averaged 24.5 points this season, placing 12e in the NBA in this regard.
In January this year, he said he tested positive for the coronavirus.
He missed 13 games for this reason last season.
Towns’ mother, Jacqueline, succumbed to complications from COVID-19 on April 13, 2020. Other members of her family have also died at the hands of the virus.
Towns recently said he got an additional dose of the vaccine, according to the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis.
Elsewhere in the NBA, Steve Nash, who leads the Nets, said James Harden has been given the green light to return to the game, having been on the sideline list in connection with protocol.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving are among several Nets players who remain unavailable, in connection with this protocol.
Durant is the NBA’s leading scorer this season (29.7).
On Christmas Eve, Brooklyn goes to visit the Los Angeles Lakers.
With the Bulls, coach Billy Donovan said after practice that all his troops are available. No less than 10 Bulls players were on the sidelines last week, in connection with the protocol. Two of their games have also been postponed, including one that was to oppose them to the Raptors in Toronto.
They were due to host the Raptors on Wednesday, but this time around, it was the Toronto club that was short of staff.
Protocol struck out from the roster OG Anunoby, Pascal Siakam, Fred VanVleet, Scottie Barnes, Gary Trent. Precious Achiuwa, Malachi Flynn and Dalano Banton.
Many other teams are affected.
Protocol keeps Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Danny Green, Cade Cunningham, Bradley Beal and Andrew Wiggins out among others on Thursday.
A source told The Associated Press that discussions are taking place to reduce the minimum length of time an athlete cannot play, following a positive test.
At this point, the procedure often dictates 10 days, or else getting two negative tests 24 hours apart.