The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association announced 16 players have tested positive for the novel coronavirus out of the 302 players tested this week. The majority of players were tested on Tuesday at their respective NBA facilities.
Players who tested positive will be self-isolated for 14 days and will have to test negative twice before resuming physical activity, traveling, or rejoining the rest of their respective teams.
The result yielded a 5.3% positive test rate, one consistent with what the NHL and other American sports leagues have encountered upon mass testing.
There has been a growing concern with the recent influx of COVID-19 cases, especially in Florida, where the NBA is destined to resume its 2019-20 season.
WESH 2 News, an NBC affiliate, reported Friday as a single-day Florida record of 8,942 positive cases — one that well exceeds the previous single-day record of 5,506 cases from Wednesday.
Out of the June 23rd mass NBA testing, these players have been known to test positive:
- Malcolm Brogdon of the Indiana Pacers
- Buddy Hield, Jabari Parker, Alex Len — reportedly three of four positive cases within the Sacramento Kings
- Derrick Jones Jr. of the Miami Heat
- Two players within the Phoenix Suns
- Four players within a Western Conference playoff team
Nikola Jokic also tested positive early this week, though his testing took place in Serbia, where he spent most of his time during the NBA hiatus. Parker was tested in Chicago and was also not part of the 302 tests administered.
Earlier in June, Denver Nuggets head coach Mike Malone also revealed he contracted COVID-19, though the infection happened shortly after the NBA season came to a halt.
Before this recent wave of testing prior to the restart initiative, there have been other cases, including Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons, as well as Kevin Durant and three other members of the Brooklyn Nets.
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