JaVale McGee is not one of the two Los Angeles Lakers players that tested positive for coronavirus, league sources confirmed on Thursday.
The seven-foot center has experienced asthma attacks and even dealt with pneumonia last season, prompting pundits to suggest that he might have tested positive for COVID-19. Sources confirmed to Yahoo Sports' Chris Baynes that those rumors were false.
There are now a total of 10 confirmed coronavirus cases among NBA players, following the diagnosis of two unidentified Lakers players as well as Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart's admission on Thursday.
The Lakers roster was immediately tested following reports that four Brooklyn Nets players were infected with the highly-contagious virus. The Lakers were the last team to face the Nets prior to the NBA's suspension. It was later revealed that the Staples Center visiting locker room was infected with COVID-19 as well.
Utah Jazz All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were the first ones to have tested positive, followed by Detroit Pistons center Christian Wood who spent a lot of time defending Gobert during their game.
It remains unclear which Lakers players were infected, considering Brooklyn also opted not to identify which of their four players tested positive. Nets superstar Kevin Durant was the only one to publicly reveal that he was diagnosed, despite not playing at all in the 2019-20 season.
JaVale McGee, meanwhile, is on his second year in Hollywood is one of the big reasons behind the Lakers' intimidating defense this season. The 32-year-old big man has assumed the role of starting center and notched 6.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in 61 appearances before the league-wide suspension.
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