With COVID-19 cases rising throughout the NBA, the Nets have been one of the most affected teams with multiple payers entering the league’s health and safety protocols.
As reported by ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, James Harden entered the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols less than two hours before tip-off against the Raptors on Tuesday, Dec. 14.
James Harden has entered protocols, team says.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 14, 2021
Harden has played in 26 of the Nets’ 30 games this season, posting averages of 20.8 points, 9,6 assists and 7.9 rebounds.
MORE: Updated team-by-team list of players in health and safety protocols
Why did James Harden enter the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols?
As Sporting News’ Gilbert McGregor recently detailed, any vaccinated NBA player is placed in the health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19 or receiving an inconclusive COVID-19 test result.
In addition to receiving a positive or inconclusive test result, an unvaccinated player is also placed in the league’s health and safety protocols if they have been deemed to have been exposed to a person who is positive for COVID-19.
MORE: NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, explained
How long will James Harden be out?
If any player tests positive for COVID-19, they must spend a minimum of 10 days away from their team unless they return two negative PCR tests within a 24-hour span.
Unvaccinated players who are flagged for contact tracing must quarantine for seven days and can return to action should they continue to return negative tests. In most cases, vaccinated players who are flagged for contact tracing will not be required to quarantine, but need seven days of more frequent testing.
In addition to receiving clearance from the league, individual teams can implement a return-to-play program to ensure a player is prepared for the cardiovascular demands of getting back on the floor.
Over the last few weeks, multiple players have tested out of the league’s health and safety protocols to return to their team in less than 10 days.
Lakers guard Malik Monk was cleared to fly from Los Angeles to Minnesota to join the team for tonight’s game, but ultimately was not cleared to play the game, sources tell ESPN. Russell Westbrook flew from Dallas to Minnesota today after testing out of protocols, per sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 17, 2021
Will James Harden play on Christmas?
Since he entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Dec. 14, Harden would have to test out of the protocols to play in Brooklyn’s Christmas Day meeting with the Lakers.
Harden has already missed the Nets’ last four games, however, the league has postponed their next two games — Sunday against the Nuggets and Tuesday against the Wizards.
The Nets currently have 10 players in the league’s health and safety protocols, including Harden, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Nets upcoming schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET | Broadcast |
| Tue, Dec. 21 | vs. WAS (postponed) | ||
| Thu, Dec. 23 | at POR | 10:00 p.m. | |
| Sat, Dec. 25 | at LAL | 8:00 p.m. | ABC |
| Mon, Dec. 27 | at LAC | 10:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Thu, Dec. 30 | vs. PHI | 7:00 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Sat, Jan. 1 | vs. Clippers | 7:30 p.m. | |
| Mon, Jan. 3 | vs. MEM | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
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