Kevin Durant was a last minute of the Nets’ starting lineup, and was then placed in the group late and eventually pulled out forever, all thanks to the contact detection of COVID-19.
Durant will not travel with the team to Philadelphia on Saturday, according to ESPN. This is not the first time the Nets star has lost time for coronavirus protocols
The NBA uses the term health and safety protocols, but in essence, someone Durant came in contact with tested positive for coronavirus. And the ensuing contact ruined the Brooklyn game against the visiting Raptors – and could have a lasting impact if Durant is forced to quarantine.
Durant had COVID-19 in May, after the 2019-20 NBA season was suspended, but before the resumption of play at the NBA bubble or his return to the Achilles operation.
Last month, Durant finally had to maintain a seven-day quarantine and missed three consecutive games – against the Jazz and 76ers and with the Grizzlies – due to exposure to someone who tested positive for coronavirus.
Durant tested negative for COVID-19, and recently tested positive for antibodies. But since the league’s COVID-19 protocols did not distinguish between players with antibodies and those who did not, Durant was not released and eventually had to sit down.
It could haunt the Nets again. Durant would start on Friday, but the Nets announced at 7:38 p.m. – about two minutes before the appointment was announced – that he would not be available to begin.
Durant himself did not get another COVID-19 test. There were additional tests for everyone he came in contact with, as well as to clarify the contact detection procedures for this case with the NBA. The league finally made the call and determined that Durant was selected to play, and he reported the game by taking over James Harden in the first quarter with 4:13 left and the Nets down, 26-17. Brooklyn eventually lost 123-117.
Yet Durant’s night did not last long: 19 minutes, to be exact.
Durant got some charges and whistled for his fifth offense that chased a loose ball with 9:06 left in the third quarter. Nets coach Steve Nash disputes the call and has it reversed, but Durant, who has gone to the bench, eventually sits the rest of the game for the health and safety protocols.
Finally, Durant finished with eight points, six rebounds and five assistants. It was the first time he had not been able to score double figures since 28 February 2017, when he scored just 1:33 for the Warriors.
It remains to be seen whether Durant will have to quarantine again, or for how long.