Two months into the 2021-22 NBA season, the league is feeling the effects of the latest COVID-19 surge.
In the first six weeks of the season, 16 players were placed into the league’s COVID health and safety protocols, which sideline any player that tests positive for COVID-19 for a minimum of 10 days. The month of December has marked a major uptick.
The numbers continue to grow, but, as of this writing:
There have been 70 NBA players who’ve entered health and safety protocols this month (out of 86 all season), and 50 of them have entered in the past week (12/12-12/18) alone.
— Baxter Holmes (@Baxter) December 18, 2021
MORE: Explaining the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols
Among players currently sidelined are former MVPs Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Durant and James Harden in addition to former All-Stars in LaMarcus Aldridge, Dwight Howard, Zach LaVine and Paul Millsap.
The Bulls have felt the impact more than any other team this season, as two of their games were postponed due to their having 10 players in health and safety protocols. An outbreak within the Cavaliers organization has resulted in a postponement of their game with the Hawks and a game between the Nets and Nuggets has also been postponed.
The NBA is postponing the Cleveland-Atlanta game tonight, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 19, 2021
The Denver-Brooklyn game today has been postponed, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 19, 2021
Per NBA rules, a game is only postponed when a team has fewer than eight available players, but that issue had largely been avoided due to the NBA’s hardship exemption, which grants teams temporary roster spots in the event of an outbreak or several serious injuries. Both the Bulls and Nets, who currently have seven players in the league’s protocols, have made use of the hardship exemption up to this point in the season.
MORE: NBA’s hardship exemption, explained
Sporting News has the list of NBA players currently in the league’s protocols:
NBA players in COVID health and safety protocols
Atlanta Hawks (one player)
- Trae Young
Boston Celtics (six players)
- Sam Hauser
- Juancho Hernangomez
- Al Horford
- Jabari Parker
- Grant Williams
- Josh Richardson
Brooklyn Nets (10 players)
- LaMarcus Aldridge
- DeAndre Bembry
- Bruce Brown
- Jevon Carter
- Kevin Durant
- Kyrie Irving
- James Harden
- James Johnson
- Paul Millsap
- Day’Ron Sharpe
Charlotte Hornets (one player)
- Cody Martin
Chicago Bulls (seven players)
- Troy Brown Jr.
- Ayo Dosunmu
- Alize Johnson
- Stanley Johnson
- Derrick Jones Jr.
- Zach LaVine
- Matt Thomas
Cleveland Cavaliers (seven players)
- Jarrett Allen
- Evan Mobley
- RJ Nembhard
- Isaac Okoro
- Lamar Stevens
- Denzel Valentine
- Dylan Windler
Dallas Mavericks (two players)
- Reggie Bullock
- Josh Green
Denver Nuggets (two players)
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Bol Bol
Golden State Warriors (one player)
- Jordan Poole
Indiana Pacers (head coach)
- Rick Carlisle
LA Clippers (one player)
- Marcus Morris Sr.
Los Angeles Lakers (four players, head coach)
- Talen Horton-Tucker
- Dwight Howard
- Avery Bradley
- Kent Bazemore
- Frank Vogel
Memphis Grizzlies (two players)
- Ja Morant
- Ziaire Williams
Miami Heat (one player)
- Caleb Martin
Milwaukee Bucks (four players)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Donte DiVincenzo
- Wesley Matthews
- Bobby Portis
Minnesota Timberwolves (three players)
- Anthony Edwards
- Taurean Prince
- Josh Okogie
New York Knicks (six players)
- RJ Barrett
- Quentin Grimes
- Kevin Knox II
- Miles McBride
- Obi Toppin
- Immanuel Quickley
Orlando Magic (five players)
- Mo Bamba
- Ignas Brazdeikis
- RJ Hampton
- Terrence Ross
- Moritz Wagner
Philadelphia 76ers (three players)
- Andre Drummond
- Shake Milton
- Georges Niang
Sacramento Kings (six players, head coach)
- Marvin Bagley III
- Terence Davis
- De’Aaron Fox
- Louis King
- Alex Len
- Davion Mitchell
- Alvin Gentry
Toronto Raptors (two players)
- Dalano Banton
- Pascal Siakam
Washington Wizards (one player)
- Kyle Kuzma
