With 4:22 left on the third quarter of the game between the L.A. Clippers and New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday, Austin Rivers was on the receiving end of an inadvertent elbow to the head from Terrence Jones.
Rivers laid on the floor after getting hit and was visibly shaken up even after he went to bench to get his bearings back. His father and Clippers' head coach, Doc Rivers, confirmed that the team made some tests on him to check if on his condition and claimed that he passed it.
Doc Rivers said Austin was tested for a concussion on the bench and passed — then they could see he was bothered early in the 4th
— Dan Woike (@DanWoikeSports) December 11, 2016
The 24-year-old Duke product was fielded once again in the fourth quarter but was quickly taken out when he was seen still feeling the effects of the elbow to his head.
Despite taking some precautionary measures to make sure their player was not concussed, the team has reportedly violated the league's concussion protocol as they did not conduct the tests in a quiet environment and even allowed him to play later in the game.
“If a player is suspected of having a concussion, or exhibits the signs or symptoms of concussion, he will be removed from participation and undergo evaluation by the medical staff in a quiet, distraction-free environment conducive to conducting a neurological evaluation.”
The NBA has been strict about their protocol on blows to the head and subjects their players to go through a series of examinations first before being allowed to return to action.
It will be worth monitoring how the league office will address this issue with the Clippers as the rule was made to look after all their players' welfare and make sure their health comes first always.
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