NBA COVID tracker: Jayson Tatum, Draymond Green join list; depleted Hawks with 13 players in protocols

More than 100 players are currently in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols as more cases are popping up following Christmas. In an effort to avoid more postponements, and align themselves with the CDC’s guidelines, the NBA and National Basketball Players Association agreed to lower the amount of days an asymptomatic player must spend in quarantine if they test positive for the virus. Previously all players had to be sidelined for 10 days, or register two negative COVID-19 tests 24 hours apart to exit protocols. However, the new guidelines will reportedly allow an asymptomatic player who is no longer contagious to exit protocols after six days.

This will potentially help avoid postponing games, as nine have been delayed so far this season. It will also allow teams to have more available players on a night-to-night basis, as many squads have been suiting up guys on 10-day contracts frequently in the last month. The league is still abiding by temporary tighter protocols that call for more testing and stricter mask requirements from Dec. 26 to Jan. 8, according to ESPN and The Athletic.

On Tuesday, Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanovic became one of the latest players to enter protocols as Atlanta is moving dangerously close to a possible postponement. The Heat’s Kyle Lowry and Warriors’ Draymond Green entered protocols over the holiday weekend. Last week, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards and Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks landed in protocols.

Postponed games in 2021-22 season

Brooklyn Nets at Portland Trail Blazers (originally scheduled for Dec. 23)
Toronto Raptors at Chicago Bulls (Dec. 22)
Washington Wizards at Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 21)
Orlando Magic at Toronto Raptors (Dec. 20)
New Orleans Pelicans at Philadelphia 76ers (Dec. 19)
Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets (Dec. 19)
Cleveland Cavaliers at Atlanta Hawks (Dec. 19)
Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors (Dec. 16)
Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls (Dec. 14)

The NBA and NBPA have reportedly reached an agreement that will allow some (asymptomatic, non-infectious) players to clear protocols as soon as six days after they test positive. Under the former protocols, if any player tests positive for COVID-19, he must immediately isolate until 10 days have passed from that test or the onset of symptoms, or until he tests negative on two PCR tests 24 hours apart.

Players who are not fully vaccinated must enter health and safety protocols if they are found to be a close contact of a person who has tested positive. Since Dec. 17, players who have not received a booster shot have been subject to tighter restrictions, including game-day testing.

The Thunder’s Mark Daigneault is the latest coach to enter protocols, joining the Suns’ Monty Williams, the Blazers’ Chauncey Billups, the Lakers’ Frank Vogel and Billy Donovan of the Bulls.

Toronto announced on Dec. 15 that it would play its home games at 50 percent capacity, and this policy took effect on Dec. 18 against the Golden State Warriors. No other NBA team has taken such a measure this season.

Below is a regularly updated, team-by-team list of players in health and safety protocols, along with the date they entered:

Players in health and safety protocols

Atlanta Hawks

Bogdan Bogdanovic (Dec. 28)
Gorgui Dieng (Dec. 28)
Malik Ellison (Dec. 28)
Delon Wright (Dec. 27)
Jalen Johnson (Dec. 26)
John Collins (Dec. 26)
Onyeka Okongwu (Dec. 25)
Wes Iwundu (Dec. 24)
Sharife Cooper (Dec. 23)
Kevin Huerter (Dec. 22)
Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (Dec. 22)
Lou Williams (Dec. 22)
Danilo Gallinari (Dec. 21)

Boston Celtics

Jayson Tatum (Dec. 27)
Dennis Schroder (Dec. 25)
Bruno Fernando (Dec. 24)
Justin Jackson (Dec. 24)
CJ Miles (Dec. 24)
Aaron Nesmith (Dec. 24)
Enes Kanter Freedom (Dec. 23)
Josh Richardson (Dec. 19)
Sam Hauser (Dec. 17)

Brooklyn Nets

Kessler Edwards (Dec. 23)
Cam Thomas (Dec. 23)
David Duke Jr. (Dec. 23)
Day’Ron Sharpe (Dec. 18)

Charlotte Hornets

Miles Bridges (Dec. 26)
PJ Washington (Dec. 26)
Cody Martin (Dec. 19)

Chicago Bulls

Lonzo Ball (Dec. 26)

Cleveland Cavaliers

Ed Davis (Dec. 21)
Jarrett Allen (Dec. 19)
RJ Nembhard (Dec. 19)
Lamar Stevens (Dec. 19)
Denzel Valentine (Dec. 19)
Dylan Windler (Dec. 19)
Isaac Okoro (Dec. 16)

Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic (Dec. 22)
Trey Burke (Dec. 22)
Tim Hardaway Jr. (Dec. 21)
Maxi Kleber (Dec. 20)
Reggie Bullock (Dec. 18)

Denver Nuggets

Bol Bol (Dec. 17)
Michael Porter Jr. (Dec. 17)

Detroit Pistons

Killian Hayes (Dec. 23)
Saben Lee (Dec. 23)
Rodney McGruder (Dec. 23)
Isaiah Stewart (Dec. 23)
Cade Cunningham (Dec. 22)

Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green (Dec. 26)
Moses Moody (Dec. 24)
Damion Lee (Dec. 22)

Houston Rockets

KJ Martin (Dec. 27)
Jae’Sean Tate (Dec. 27)

Los Angeles Clippers

Reggie Jackson (Dec. 22)
Marcus Morris Sr. (Dec. 18)

Los Angeles Lakers

Rajon Rondo (Dec. 26)
Trevor Ariza (Dec. 23)
Kent Bazemore (Dec. 19)
Austin Reaves (Dec. 17)

Memphis Grizzlies

Jarrett Culver (Dec. 23)
Ziaire Williams (Dec. 19)

Miami Heat

Kyle Lowry (Dec. 25)

Milwaukee Bucks

JaQuori McLaughlin (Dec. 23)

Minnesota Timberwolves

D’Angelo Russell (Dec. 25)
Karl-Anthony Towns (Dec. 23)
McKinley Wright IV (Dec. 23)
Patrick Beverley (Dec. 20)
Jarred Vanderbilt (Dec. 20)
Josh Okogie (Dec. 19)

New Orleans Pelicans

Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Dec. 23)
Naji Marshall (Dec. 23)

New York Knicks

Jericho Sims (Dec. 25)
Nerlens Noel (Dec. 22)
Miles McBride (Dec. 18)

Oklahoma City Thunder

Josh Giddey (Dec. 28)
Aleksej Pokusevski (Dec. 27)
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl (Dec. 27)
Aaron Wiggins (Dec. 27)

Orlando Magic

Mychal Mulder (Dec. 22)
Mo Bamba (Dec. 17)
Terrence Ross (Dec. 17)
Moe Wagner (Dec. 17)
Ignas Brazdeikis (Dec. 16)

Philadelphia 76ers

Danny Green (Dec. 22)
Andre Drummond (Dec. 19)
Shake Milton (Dec. 19)
Georges Niang (Dec. 15)

Phoenix Suns

Deandre Ayton (Dec. 27)
Jae Crowder (Dec. 26)

Portland Trail Blazers

Jusuf Nurkic (Dec. 26)
Cody Zeller (Dec. 26)
Robert Covington (Dec. 25)
Ben McLemore (Dec. 25)
Keljin Blevins (Dec. 25)
Dennis Smith Jr. (Dec. 24)
Trendon Watford (Dec. 24)

Sacramento Kings

Neemias Queta (Dec. 21)
Davion Mitchell (Dec. 17)
De’Aaron Fox (Dec. 16)
Louis King (Dec. 16)
Alex Len (Dec. 16)
Marvin Bagley III (Dec. 15)
Terence Davis (Dec. 15)

San Antonio Spurs

Dejounte Murray (Dec. 26)

Toronto Raptors

OG Anunoby (Dec. 22)
Fred VanVleet (Dec. 21)
Precious Achiuwa (Dec. 21)
Scottie Barnes (Dec. 21)
Malachi Flynn (Dec. 21)
Gary Trent Jr. (Dec. 20)
Dalano Banton (Dec. 18)
Pascal Siakam (Dec. 18)

Washington Wizards

Rui Hachimura (Dec. 28)
Montrezl Harrell (Dec. 28)
Bradley Beal (Dec. 23)
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (Dec. 21)