Tuesday night before the Lakers game in Sacramento, LeBron James was ruled out and placed in the NBA’s COVID health and safety protocols, and was expected to miss several games as reported by NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski.
Two days later, James has tested negative for COVID on multiple occasions and is set to return to the court Friday for the Lakers game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
“Following two negative PCR tests conducted more than 24 hours apart, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has cleared the NBA’s Health & Safety Protocols,” the NBA said in a statement.
“James was originally placed in the Protocols on Tuesday, November 30 after a series of tests delivered conflicting results, including an initial positive test that was collected on November 29. Additional testing confirmed that he is not a positive case.”
The following was released by the NBA pic.twitter.com/Ct60rHwLLv
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) December 2, 2021
NBA insider Shams Charania first reported the news, saying that James is expected to return to the court on Friday.
Just in: Lakers star LeBron James has been cleared from health and safety protocols to return on Friday vs. Clippers, after testing positive but since registering multiple negative COVID-19 tests, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 2, 2021
The Lakers did not officially state that James had tested positive for COVID, but statements from his teammates indicated that he had.
“He said he’s good,” Lakers forward Anthony Davis said postgame. “I think he’s asymptomatic, which is a good sign, but we want to make sure that he gets back. Health is most important. This is bigger than basketball. He has a family. We want to make sure that he’s good no matter what.”
James said he is fully vaccinated, telling reporters on Lakers Media Day that he was initially skeptical of taking the vaccine, but ultimately decided it was the best decision for him and his family.
“I know that for me I can speak about myself,” James said in October. “I think everyone has their own choice to do what they feel is right for themselves and their family, and things of that nature. I know that I was very [skeptical] about it all, but after doing my research, and things of that nature, I felt like it was best suited for not only me but for my family and for my friends, and that’s why I decided to do it.”
It’s been a difficult start to the season for the Lakers and for James, who is in his 19th season in the league.
The Lakers have struggled to integrate new players to the roster, stumbling out the gate with a 12-11 record on the season.
James missed eight consecutive games in November due to an abdominal strain, a stretch in which the Lakers went 3-5 in his absence. After returning from injury, James played in just two games before being ejected from the Lakers game in Detroit for striking Pistons big man Isaiah Stewart in the face while boxing out on the free throw line.
He was suspended for one game, missing the Lakers game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Earlier on Thursday, the NBA announced that the Lakers matchup against the Clippers has been flexed off of national TV and replaced with the Golden State Warriors vs Phoenix Suns matchup.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].
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Source: Dailywire
