NBA Officially Tightens COVID-19 Protocols

Following a Board of Governors meeting earlier today, the NBA and NBPA have agreed to tighten protocols following a flurry of positive COVID-19 tests around the league. One of the biggest changes is closing off of rooms to non-team guests in hotels.

New ESPN story with @WindhorstESPN and @BobbyMarks42: After tightening its health and safety protocols, here's an FAQ to help explain the new reality the NBA faces for at least the next two weeks. https://t.co/ClbYNuxxOD
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 12, 2021

The NBA and NBPA announced that they are tightening their health-and-safety protocols for at least the next two weeks. Here's what that will entail: https://t.co/bPqUWfR3SB
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) January 12, 2021

Amongst some of the changes, the league will be restricting players and team staff movement, as they will not be allowed to leave their hotels on the road for non-team related activities. There will also be a much stricter policy on mask-wearing for all players and staff. Miami Heat Coach Erik Spoelstra is all for toughening up the league's current COVID-19 protocols.

Erik Spoelstra says he's "all for" the tightening of the NBA's health and safety protocols. "We have to do everything we can to adhere to protocols, to add to protocols, to be more vigilant than we ever have been to proceed in a safe manner."
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 12, 2021

At the moment, there are at least 27 players in the health and safety protocols, which is having a drastic effect on teams abilities to put a competitive roster on the floor.

There are 27 players in the health and safety protocols on the latest injury report (which doesn't include info for all 30 teams). New names include Mavs forward Dwight Powell, Knicks forward Taj Gibson (who recently signed), and Wizards forward Rui Hachimura and Moritz Wagner.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) January 12, 2021

Hopefully the leagues new policies will curb the spread of the virus. Much more to come on this story as it plays out...

Photo Credit: PI/Zuma Press/Icon Sportswire