More on Coronavirus
Brian Lewis: Kevin Durant on Kyrie Irving not being able to play at home: "I dont get it; just feels like at this point now somebody's trying to make a statement or a point to flex their authority. But everybodys looking for attention & thats what I felt like the mayor wants right now, some attention." #Nets
Malika Andrews: Kevin Durant, in part, on Kyrie Irving being in Barclays but unable to play: “It’s ridiculous… At this point now someone is trying to make a statement or a point to flex their authority. There are unvaccinated people in this building already.”
Shams Charania: Kyrie Irving is joining his Nets teammates and coaches in the locker room at halftime, sources say. Irving is able to move freely inside Barclays Center as a spectator — a special one, at that — but is not able to play.
Anthony Puccio: Kyrie Irving walks to his courtside seats… in his home arena. pic.twitter.com/8NKAHwFrfm
Alex Schiffer: Kyrie Irving takes his seat to thunderous applause. pic.twitter.com/DGMNsO3mhS
Christian Clark: CJ McCollum is out tomorrow against the Hornets, the Pelicans say. He's been placed in the health and safety protocols. New Orleans won't have McCollum or Brandon Ingram.
The NBA insider also pointed out the recent change in mandates the New York Mayor Eric Adams put into place recently. Things seem to be moving in the right direction for Brooklyn, which is a positive sign for the Nets and Irving’s home debut this season. “Certainly you’ve seen a progression in the mayor’s office of alleviating restriction but still the performer restriction that keeps Kyrie Irving out hasn’t changed.”
There is no official word from the Suns that Booker has cleared the league's health and safety protocols. Booker has missed Phoenix's last three games in protocols and wasn't with the team in Orlando for Tuesday night's matchup against the Magic.
Kellan Olson: Devin Booker (health and safety protocols) and Cam Johnson (right quad contusion) remain out for the Suns tomorrow against the Magic. No changes to the injury report.
Duane Rankin: Devin Booker (protocols) OUT for tomorrow's game at #Bucks. Didn't travel with team. Cam Johnson (right quad contusion) OUT as well. #Suns
Kristian Winfield: Steve Nash has not cleared the health and safety protocols yet, so Jacque Vaughn will be talking after practice today. Nash has yet to post 2 consecutive negative COVID-19 tests, but today is Day 6, so he is expected to return for tomorrow’s matchup against the Celtics.
Gerald Bourguet: No Devin Booker at shootaround this morning, as expected
Brain Lewis: #Nets Head Coach Steve Nash will not coach tonight’s game due to health and safety protocols. Assistant Coach Jacque Vaughn will assume head coaching duties until Nash returns. #NBA
Alex Schiffer: If the NYC vaccine mandate is lifted, Steve Nash said Kyrie Irving is working toward being able to play full-time. Doesn’t see him needing to ease into a heavier load should it happen.
Shams Charania: New York City has a plan to phase out the vaccine mandate in the coming weeks, Mayor Eric Adams says, at which point Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving would be cleared for home games. Spokesperson adds that current rules remain in place.
Mike Vorkunov: NYC Mayor Eric Adams came closer today to saying he'll get rid of vaccine mandate & phase out vaccine passport. Adams: "Yes, I can’t wait to get it done... I’m not going to get ahead of the science because I’m ready to get ahead of all of this & get back to a level of normalcy." pic.twitter.com/6Kr9DtOjkd
Tim Bontemps: Adam Silver says he isn’t sure what will happen with New York City’s vaccine mandate, but says that he continues to see other mandates and regulations easing across the country. Said he expects any decision to be made to be based off New York’s case rates of COVID-19.
A. Sherrod Blakely: "We have to learn to live with this virus. It's not likely to go anywhere. There will probably be other variants, but we have tools to deal with them. I feel as a country, we're better equipped to deal with that now." - Adam Silver
TD Garden, in alignment with the city of Boston, will end the requirement for proof of vaccination starting Monday, Feb. 21. The Boston mask mandate will continue to be in effect, requiring all guests 2 and older to wear a face mask at all times while indoors, except when actively eating or drinking.
Neil Dalal: Daniel Gafford is not on the Wizards injury report presumably indicating he will return from his bout with COVID tonight at Nets Rui Hachimura is listed as questionable with his right ankle sprain Kristaps Porzingis and Bradley Beal are out
Stefan Bondy: Asked Nash if he's optimistic about Kyrie after Silver and Adams comment: "Everyone realizes there is a little bit of a strange loophole that there are other (unvaccinated) athletes and entertainers who can come to New York and perform. So we’re hopeful there’s a resolution."
On Monday, the Ontario government announced that the province will be ramping up its reopening timeline. The NHL's Ottawa Senators, Toronto Maple Leafs, and the NBA's Toronto Raptors will be permitted to increase 50 percent capacity beginning on Feb. 17. In addition, if public health officials believe that it's a safe environment, then arenas could move to full capacity beginning on March 1.
Eric Koreen: In a statement, MLSE says it hasn’t determined whether or not its facilities will still mandate full vaccination in coming games. Says decision will be made "based on further discussions with public health officials."
Chase Hughes: Wes Unseld Jr. says Daniel Gafford tested positive twice yesterday and isn’t feeling well. Sounds like he is symptomatic as he enters protocols.
Tony East: Goga Bitadze and Domantas Sabonis are available for the Pacers tonight, Rick Carlisle says.
Ryan Miller: Quin Snyder is out of COVID protocols.
James Boyd: #Pacers injury report/illness report: Domantas Sabonis (COVID-19 protocols), Malcolm Brodgon (sore right Achilles) and Goga Bitadze (bruised right foot) have all been upgraded to questionable tomorrow against the #Cavs.
Scott Agness: Sabonis is close to exiting protocols. He’s been working out at his sweet home gym. Isaiah Jackson is making progress, participating in shooting drills, but remains out. Probably for another week. Carlisle said it was a “moderate” ankle sprain. Bitadze is questionable.
Anthony Chiang: Omer Yurtseven is out of protocols and joined the Heat in Charlotte for tomorrow's game vs. Hornets. Martin (Achilles), Strus (quad) and Tucker (knee) are questionable. Butler (toe) is probable. Morris, Okpala, Oladipo and Silva are out.
Omari Sanfoka II: Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk will both play tonight, Dwane Casey said. Will be Grant's first game since Dec. 10
Marc J. Spears: Hornets say Hornets F Gordon Hayward has been cleared from the NBA’s Health & Safety Protocols but did not travel with the team to Boston. Hayward will be listed as out for tomorrow’s game and will remain in Charlotte for conditioning as he returns from H&S Protocols.
Omari Sanfoka II: Jerami Grant and Kelly Olynyk aren’t listed on the 7:30 injury report, meaning they could return tomorrow against the Pelicans. Grant hasn’t played since Dec. 10 due to a thumb injury and health and safety protocols.
Adam Spolane: Kevin Porter Jr has cleared Health and Safety Protocols and will play tonight per Stephen Silas
Ky Carlin: Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins says that Tyus Jones will play tonight against the #Sixers. He had been out due to the health and safety protocols.
James Boyd: Rick Carlisle said he’s not sure how long Domantas Sabonis will be out. Gone at least six days or if he registers two negative PCR tests 24 hours apart. #Pacers
Scott Agness: Pacers center Domantas Sabonis has entered healthy and safety protocols and is out tonight vs Clippers.
Andy Larsen: Donovan Mitchell didn't go through shootaround today due to his concussion. Also asked acting head coach Alex Jensen about Quin Snyder's symptoms: "He's feeling alright, it's not too bad, but that could change."
Sarah Todd: Quin Snyder, Danuel House are both in the NBA health and safety protocol. Alex Jensen is the acting head coach for the Utah Jazz
Adrian Wojnarowski. Utah’s Quin Snyder is the 18th NBA head coach to enter the league’s Covid protocols this season.
Ira Winderman: Heat center Omer Yurtseven has entered NBA health-and-safety protocols, likely leaving him away from the team for at least the next three games. Kyle Lowry remains away from the team for personal reasons.
Damichael Cole: Taylor Jenkins said Tyus Jones and Kyle Anderson have both been cleared from health and safety protocols. Jones is listed as out while Anderson is questionable. Jenkins mentioned conditioning as to why Jones is still listed as out. Anderson will go though pregame warmups.
Jim Owczarski: Forgot to note that Lindell Wigginton exited the league's health and safety protocol the other day for the #Bucks
A majority of fans approve of how Irving has handled his decision, the survey conducted for ESPN by Hart Research found. Overall, more fans approve of how the Brooklyn Nets star has handled his vaccination status (45%) than disapprove (40%, with 15% saying they don't know). Those numbers climb to 46% approval, 41% disapproval and 13% don't know for self-described NBA fans.
Overall, the survey found that two in three sports fans want to see athletes vaccinated (66% to 34%), 55% agree that athletes have a responsibility to publicly disclose whether they are vaccinated or not (36% disagreed; 8% did not have a feeling one way or the other), and 59% think unvaccinated players are hurting their team because they are more likely to miss games (33% disagree; 8% don't have a feeling one way or the other).
Damichael Cole: Desmond Bane is officially active today. Bane missed the last three games due to health and safety protocols. Taylor Jenkins said the Grizzlies will be smart, but Bane will not be on a minutes restriction.
Scott Agness: T.J. McConnell has cleared health and safety protocols so he’s back on the team bench after being away for the last four games. Pacers don’t have any players in the protocols. TJM is still rehabbing from hand surgery almost two months ago.
Paul Garcia: Coach Pop says Becky Hammon and Darius Songalia are back from H&S protocols, but now Chip Engelland has entered protocols
Rod Boone: Gordon Hayward has entered health and safety protocols and is out for tonight's game against the Pacers. #Hornets still can't get to full strength for more than a game or so.
Anthony Chiang: Tyler Herro is listed as probable for tomorrow's game vs. Knicks. Kyle Lowry, Markieff Morris, KZ Okpala and Victor Oladipo remain out for the Heat.
Will Guillory: Trey Murphy (health & safety protocols) is out tonight vs Indiana, per the Pelicans.
On any night, John Stockton’s name and No. 12 jersey can be seen hanging from a banner in the south-facing rafters at McCarthey Athletic Center. But Gonzaga and its most prominent alumnus are at odds over the school’s mask mandate, leading Gonzaga to suspend Stockton’s season tickets at home basketball games. In an interview with The Spokesman-Review on Saturday at The Warehouse – the Spokane-based gym Stockton has owned since 2002 – the NBA’s all-time assists and steals leader, and one of only two players who’s had his number retired by Gonzaga, confirmed the university’s decision to suspend his season tickets for failing to comply with the mask mandate.
Stockton said he’s conscious of his image, especially around his hometown , where he’s resided since a 19-year Hall of Fame career with the Jazz ended in 2003. The 59-year-old said he is also aware of how his widely circulated opinions may be received by fans who have accepted the evidence regarding the efficacy of vaccines and the effectiveness of mask wearing to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. “I’m very concerned about my image,” Stockton said. “I understand I’m a public figure and they show me at every game, so they understand it as well. I take that responsibility very seriously, both when I’m around campus and when I’m not. It’s a lifestyle, so of course I do.”
During the interview, Stockton asserted that more than 100 professional athletes have died of vaccination. He also said tens of thousands of people – perhaps millions – have died from vaccines. “I think it’s highly recorded now, there’s 150 I believe now, it’s over 100 professional athletes dead – professional athletes – the prime of their life, dropping dead that are vaccinated, right on the pitch, right on the field, right on the court,” Stockton said in the interview. Such claims are dubious and not backed by science, nor are they deemed credible by medical professionals, according to FactCheck.org, a project of The Annenberg Public Policy Center, and research reported by PolitiFact, which is run by the Poynter Institute.
Tim MacMahon: Backup center Hassan Whiteside has cleared health and safety protocols and is questionable due to conditioning. All-NBA big man Rudy Gobert (left ankle soreness) is also questionable.
Omari Sanfoka II: Kelly Olynyk has entered health and safety protocols, joining Jerami Grant
TJ McBride: Jeff Green (left quad contusion) is now on the injury report and is questionable. JaMychal Green (H&S protocols) has been upgraded to questionable. Murray, Porter and Cancar are all out.
James Ham: The Kings have no one listed on the injury report. Tyrese Haliburton has cleared health and safety protocols and is likely back in the starting lineup today after a two game absence.
Marc J. Spears: Magic say Head Coach Jamahl Mosley and Assistant Coach Nate Tibbetts have both cleared NBA Health and Safety Protocols. Both will be back on the bench for tonight’s game against the L.A. Lakers.
Andy Larsen: Masks are no longer required at Vivint Arena after the state legislature overturned Salt Lake County’s mask mandate today. Vaccination or negative test still required.
Tyrese Haliburton: Tyrese Haliburton has cleared health and safety protocols, sources tell me.
Law Murray: Clippers list both Nicolas Batum (health and safety protocols) and Marcus Morris Sr. (Personal) as questionable for tomorrow night in Philadelphia. Both missed last night's loss in Denver. Paul George, Kawhi Leonard, Jason Preston out with recovery. Johnson/Scrubb in the G
Marc J. Spears: G League Ignite says NBA Veteran CJ Miles has rejoined the team. Also, head coach Jason Hart and players Amauri Hardy and Scoot Henderson have entered Health & Safety Protocols. Assistant coach CJ Williams will serve as the team’s interim head coach during Hart’s absence.
Ryan Blackburn: JaMychal Green remains OUT for tomorrow's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. He's still in health and safety protocols. No one else is on the injury report other than Murray, Porter, and Vlatko. Bryn Forbes is also listed on the official roster. Perhaps he makes his debut???
Anthony Chiang: Tyler Herro (protocols) and Kyle Lowry (personal reasons) out for Heat tomorrow vs. Hawks. Markieff Morris, KZ Okpala and Victor Oladipo also remain out for the Heat,
Andrew Greif: Nico Batum has entered the health and safety protocols.
Andrew Greif: Luke Kennard has been updated to questionable for tomorrow vs. Denver, the team says. He hasn’t played since Dec. 31. He shot 48% from 3 in Dec. and Clippers need his shooting on this 8-game road trip.
The Grizzlies have announced that starting shooting guard Desmond Bane and reserve forward Kyle Anderson have been added to the team’s inactive list due to “health and safety protocols” — the NBA’s term for COVID management. The pair will miss Wednesday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, and likely more.
Ryan Blackburn: Via Nuggets injury report, JaMychal Green is still OUT due to health and safety protocols. Austin Rivers is off the injury report and should be available tomorrow. So is Markus Howard, who was recalled from his G League assignment. Gonna be a fun roster for tomorrow IMO.
