On Tuesday, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was placed in the NBA's health and safety protocols and reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 (twice). Following the Lakers' 117-92 win over the Sacramento Kings at Golden 1 Center (sans LeBron), Anthony Davis confirmed that he spoke to his Klutch compadre and essentially confirmed that LeBron had indeed contracted the coronavirus.
“I talked to him today,” Davis revealed after dropping 25 points and seven rebounds on the Kings. “Obviously, me and LB is close and I checked on him. Just hearing what Joel Embiid said — obviously (Embiid) was scared. He said that he thought he wasn’t going to make it. COVID is a scary thing. Especially with all the new variants coming out and all that…it’s a scary situation. He said he’s good.”
Embiid and LeBron are two of the many NBA stars that, while vaccinated, have landed in the health and safety protocols. The NBA is encouraging its players and staff to receive a booster shot. Both Frank Vogel and Anthony Davis endorsed the booster postgame.
According to TMZ Sports, LeBron (who is vaxxed) underwent three tests for COVID and tested positive twice. He was asymptomatic, as of the report on Tuesday afternoon. Davis confirmed that report.
“He said he’s asymptomatic, which is a good sign, but we want to make sure that he gets back,” AD communicated. “Health is what’s most important. It’s bigger than basketball. He has a family and we want to make sure that he’s good no matter what. Like this Basketball Thing don't stop. We want to make sure his health is what’s most important, especially for our organization. He’s part of our family and we want to make sure he’s good. For his sake, for his family’s sake. Like I said, he seemed to be fine, but I know he’s watching basketball and he’s excited, so the win probably helped him fight this off as well.”
Lakers head coach Frank Vogel did not go into specifics on LeBron's situation.
“Found out this morning that he was gonna be entering the health and safety protocols,” he said pregame. “We arranged for him to get transportation back to LA safely. That’s pretty much all I can say about him.”
Vogel said the Lakers are mostly concerned with James' well-being.
“It’s disappointing. We just want the best for him right now, that’s where our thoughts are.”
Most likely, the soonest LeBron could return to the court is either during the Lakers road back-t0-back vs. the Memphis Grizzlies and Oklahoma City Thunder on Dec. 9-10, or when the Lakers face the Orlando Magic at Staples Center on Dec. 12.
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