6:24pm: Shams Charania of The Athletic tweets that James will be sidelined for at least 10 days unless he tests negative for COVID-19 twice within a 24-hour span. Though it’s not confirmed, this timeline generally indicates a positive test.
5:39pm: Lakers All-Star forward LeBron James looks set to miss even more time in this young 2021/22 NBA season. Shams Charania of The Athletic reports (Twitter link) that James has entered the league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols and will be unavailable for Tuesday’s contest against the Kings.
With this absence tonight (and potentially more to come, depending on his coronavirus testing status over the ensuing days and weeks), James will have now been sidelined for 12 of the Lakers’ 23 contests already this season, and it’s still only November.
The 36-year-old future Hall of Famer has put up gaudy numbers when available this year, his 19th in the league. He is averaging 25.8 PPG, 6.8 APG, and 5.2 RPG on .484/.344/.755 shooting across 11 games this season. The shorthanded Lakers are also without combo guard Avery Bradley and forward Trevor Ariza tonight.
Entering coronavirus protocols does not necessarily mean James, who is vaccinated, has tested positive for COVID-19. It does, however, at least indicate exposure to someone else who registered a positive test. Tim Bontemps of ESPN notes (via Twitter) that, should a player have a confirmed positive test, they will be sidelined for at least 10 days. During that timeline, the Lakers are set to play only four games, though three of those will be against playoff-caliber clubs in the Clippers, Celtics and Grizzlies.
Melo will carry the team tonight from the 3pt line. You heard it here first
Gee, ain’t that a sucker punch, eh LeBron?
Sucker punch? Wasn’t it his finger that clipped buddy in the eye? Just another LeBron hater. Keep drinking the kool-aid lol.
Yes, his finger clipped Stewart’s face and somehow he was bleeding that much. It was clearly close fisted.
The only sucker here is you.
He must have gotten in too close of contact of the 2 fans he had kicked out.
Kicked out for telling him his son should die in a car accident… they’re lucky that’s all that happened to them…
Sure that’s what was said, and the couple the season before too I guess right?
I am not that gullible, Lebum is being trolled for:
Too Much Pizza
You love to see it
This will be worse than Rodgers if we find out he was unvaccinated… he didn’t say “immunized” he said he got the vaccine.
There’s no doubt in my mind he didn’t get the vaccination. Guy was 100% against it before it was determined it would affect his pocketbook.
For players it is so much easier to catch a virus. Most of their meals are at out in public places. they also travel close to 100 people all the time. sleep in hotels who knows how clean they are. Airplanes are the easiest place to catch a virus with recirculated air.
Viruses are everywhere all the time, like bacteria, and germs
Sure you want to minimize risk, but its not enough to claim pro-athletes are at higher risk than everyday Americans
And masks stop viruses too, but not dry-wall dust?
Sure, OK
WTF is wrong with LBJ this year..? Can be a fake load management, cause he does not give a F about this regular season
Ya the league did all this just so he can sit at home and not play regular season games LOL
God I freaking hate Lakers Fans. They are the most annoying in all of sports.
Dodgers fans also
Don’t forget Yankees, Red Sox, and most of all, Cardinals fans! Honorable mention to so-called ‘fans’ who follow the Cubs.
Arc89- airplanes are the easiest place to catch it huh? Maybe you should apply to be the Covid Czar.
Bruh- you have no clue. I would counter that being inside a covid clinic every day would be an easier place to catch it…..
Any place that recirculates air is the easiest place to catch any virus. maybe you should take some college classes and learn how a virus works. Instead of listening to some political radio host that dropped out of school.
Recirculating air would be healthier than wearing a mask in a room full of virus carrying hosts…
Recycling the air is what I believe you meant to say?
When he recovers, will the name get changed to LeBron-19?
Also, just because, Scottie Pippen will swear Covid is a better basketball player than Jordan ever was, and if he had teamed with covid instead of Jordan he’d have 15 rings.
I live for MJ fan comments… even though this article literally has nothing to do with MJ they still come to his rescue to TRY and protect his legacy lol. Always gives me a good chuckle
Its really less to do about Jordan, and more to do about Pippen, who just seems to me now as the scorned ex who never really moved on.
People still bring up his name as “a Robin”. Has to hurt.
No, not at all. You’ll find out soon enough why Pippen said what he said about Last Dance & M.J.
Goes back 20 years, and yes the NBA made it easier on guys like M.J. & Lebum
From Marketing to referee nepotism, all part of the NBA show
If you were good, but not tapped to be “it” because of nepotism, and silenced about the truth, even 20 years post? You’d be scorned too!
Unless you are spineless & weak
He avoided the vaccine because there is a drug-drug reaction between HGH and mRNA vaccines.
How is he gonna break Kareem’s scoring record missing so many games? Still gotta a long way to go.
Asked and answered
Too Much Pizza…
Why are all these players testing positive for Covid-19? The league reported 95% of players were vaccinated. Either there is a number of players lying about being vaccinated (Aaron Rodgers, for example) or there is a huge number of break-through infections.