Bulls' Lonzo Ball Enters COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols

Lonzo Ball enters COVID-19 health and safety protocols originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago From Dec. 26 through Jan. 8, the NBA will test its teams daily for COVID-19 in attempt to mitigate post-holiday-season spread. On the first day of that increased testing window, the Chicago Bulls have landed three players in health and safety protocols. Sunday morning, it was Alfonzo McKinnie and Tony Bradley. Now, Lonzo Ball has entered protocols, a Bulls spokesperson confirmed. Through 29 games, Ball was the only Bulls player to not miss a game — and he leads the team with a minutes average of 35.6. In his 29 appearances, the fifth-year guard is averaging 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1.8 steals and 1 block while shooting 41.9 percent from 3-point land. But now, he could miss a few contests. Ball will remain in protocols for 10 days or until he can return two negative PCR tests within a 24-hour span (Devon Dotson, as an example, tested out of protocols early with two negative tests). Ball, the 15th Bulls player to enter protocols this season and 14th in December, joins McKinnie, Bradley and head coach Billy Donovan in protocols. Those three players, plus Alex Caruso, Derrick Jones Jr. and Patrick Williams, are all out for Sunday night’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers. Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu, Troy Brown Jr. and Matt Thomas, meanwhile, are all poised to return from protocols against the Pacers. Click here to follow the Bulls Talk Podcast. DownloadDownload MyTeams Today!

The, Doctor