Hornets Have 4 Players in Health and Safety Protocols

As first reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic, four players from the Charlotte Hornets have entered health and safety protocols.

Guards LaMelo Ball and Terry Rozier, forward Jalen McDaniels and center Mason Plumlee all have been placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Saturday. The organization did not reveal if any of the players tested positive for COVID-19.

If a player has a confirmed positive test for COVID-19, the NBA mandates a minimum of 10 days of isolation away from his team without any physical activity. After that period, a player must undergo a cardiac screening and reconditioning in order to be cleared to return to the court. A player who tests positive also could clear the protocols by returning two negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests within a 24-hour period.

If there are no more positive test, the Hornets will still have enough players to compete in their next game against the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday. According to NBA rules, they will need a minimum of eight players.

The team is scheduled to depart on Saturday for the game with the Hawks. Charlotte also recalled James Bouknight, Vernon Carey Jr. and Kai Jones from their G-League affiliate, the Greensboro Swarm, to cover their absences.

The Hornets, who have lost their last three games, are scheduled to play the Philadelphia 76ers Monday and Wednesday and the Sacramento Kings on Friday, which are all home games. The Hornets, who have a record of 13-11, are in seventh place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Ball, Rozier, Plumlee and McDaniels are all key contributors to the Hornets.

Ball, 20, who was named Rookie of the Year last season, leads the Hornets in scoring, 20 points per game, rebounds, 8 per game, assists, 8 per game and steals, 2 per game.

Rozier is averaging 18 points per game, while Plumlee leads the team in rejections, 1 per game and is averaging 7 rebounds.

McDaniels is averaging 6 points and 3 rebounds in 15 minutes per game.

The NBA has said 97% of the players are vaccinated, but it is unclear how many have received booster shots. There have been more than 20 players placed in the league’s health and safety protocols since the season started.

The league postponed about 30 games last season, mostly for virus-related reasons, but none were cancelled. They have not had to postpone a game due to the virus yet this year.