By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
Los Angeles Lakers star Russell Westbrook is now in the NBA’s health and safety protocols for COVID-19 per multiple reports. He’s the fifth Lakers player to enter the protocols after Avery Bradley, Malik Monk, Dwight Howard and Talen Horton-Tucker.
The Lakers are yet another team that is seeing multiple players having to be sidelined for coronavirus-related reasons. As of now, they don’t have it as bad as the Chicago Bulls who are down 10 (!) players – including stars Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan – or the Brooklyn Nets that are missing seven players. James Harden is one of them.
The Bulls are planned to play the Lakers Monday (20/12). In the meantime, the Los Angeles side is signing former two-time All-Star Isaiah Thomas under hardship exception.
The NBA is experiencing a crisis with 36 players in the league’s health and safety protocols. Technical staff is also affected; Sacramento Kings coach Alvin Gentry and Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle have tested positive for COVID-19.
Following the latest spike in coronavirus-related absences, the NBA and the NBPA are reported to be discussing changes in their measures for COVID-19, including additional testing.
Since the beginning of the season, 63 NBA players have entered the protocols, 47 of them in December.