Sacramento Kings players Alex Len, Jabari Parker and Buddy Hield have each tested positive for the novel coronavirus.
Parker, in a team statement, said:
Several days ago I tested positive for COVID-19 and immediately self-isolated in Chicago which is where I remain. I am progressing in my recovery and feeling well. I look forward to joining my teammates in Orlando as we return to the court for the resumption of the NBA season.
Len posted an Instagram story that read:
I underwent testing yesterday in Sacramento and was found to be positive for COVID-19. I want to thank the Sacramento Kings for their great care and the NBA for putting the protocols in place to allow me to catch this early. I have immediately entered isolation and look forward to being cleared and rejoining my teammates for our playoff push.
Hield told The Sacramento Bee that, despite the positive test, he is “good” and believes he will “be fine by Monday.”
However, under NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, it will be at least two weeks before the three players are cleared to resume basketball activities.
Hield, picked No. 6 in the 2016 Draft, is averaging 19.8 points and 3.1 assists for the 2019-20 season.
Parker, 25, has appeared in one game with the Kings. He was traded to Sacramento in February by Atlanta, after averaging 15 points and 5.8 rebounds per game in 32 games with the Hawks this season. Len was also part of that trade involving the Hawks and Kings, and has averaged 6.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg and 1.4 blocks per game in nine games with Sacramento.
The Kings, with a 28-36 record at the time the league went on hiatus, sit 11th in the Western Conference. They trail eighth-place Memphis by 3 1/2 games with eight scheduled to play in the season restart. Portland (29-37) and New Orleans (28-36) will be joined by the Spurs (27-36) and Suns (26-39) in competing for the conference’s final playoff slot.
If the eighth seed is fewer than four games ahead of the ninth seed, the teams will face off in a play-in tournament.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
