Kings player cleared for game against Spurs after reported inconclusive COVID-19 test
.JPG "Sacramento Kings general manager Vlade Divac talks with coach Luke Walton during the California Summer classic at Golden One Center on Monday, July 1, 2019 in Sacramento.")
A Kings player who reportedly produced an inconclusive COVID-19 test earlier this week will be available when Sacramento resumes NBA play against the San Antonio Spurs on Friday at Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Marc Spears reported a member of the Kings had an inconclusive test on Wednesday, but the player was expected to be cleared for Friday’s game following successive negative test results Thursday and Friday. The unidentified player was reportedly kept under quarantine for two days until he tested negative for the second time Friday.
The Kings said they could not discuss the reported inconclusive test due to privacy restrictions under the league’s collective bargaining agreement. However, the team told The Sacramento Bee all players will be available against the Spurs except Alex Len, who is reconditioning after recovering from COVID-19, and Marvin Bagley III, who is out with a foot injury.
The Kings have been hit hard by the coronavirus in the weeks leading up to the NBA restart. Buddy Hield, Harrison Barnes, Jabari Parker and Len all contracted the virus and Richaun Holmes was placed under mandatory 10-day quarantine after inadvertently leaving the NBA bubble. Hield, Barnes and Parker have recovered and will be available when the Kings play the Spurs, but Len is being held out due to reconditioning following a 24-day battle with COVID-19.
None of the players in the NBA bubble have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. Players are tested daily and required to quarantine if they leave the bubble.
According to NBA protocols, inconclusive tests require individuals to produce two negative tests in the next 48 hours to gain clearance. Sources told ESPN there is significant concern among teams in the bubble that inconclusive or “false positive” tests could cause players to miss seeding or playoff games.
This story was originally published July 31, 2020 at 10:54 AM.
