NBA: LeBron James ‘disappointed’ by NBA protocol for COVID-19

LOS ANGELES – Returning to Friday night’s game against the Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said his brief stint on the NBA’s health and safety protocol related to COVID-19 “left” confused and “frustrated” and ‘ Angry ‘.

James missed the Lakers’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday after testing positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday morning, forcing him to isolate himself from his team and fly back to Los Angeles alone on a plane chartered by the team.

“I knew I was going to get the go-ahead because I never felt sick at all,” James said after collecting 23 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists in the 119-115 loss to the Clippers. “I think it was handled badly.”

James said he first tested negative on Tuesday and then tested positive on a follow-up test. The league has re-run more rigorous testing on its teams after Thanksgiving in hopes of detecting an increase in cases where players spend time with family and friends for the holiday.

“Usually when you test positive, they test you right away to make sure you are positive,” James said. “There was no follow-up test after my positive test. I was immediately put into isolation and into protocol. This is the part that pissed me off a little bit. I had to find a way to get back from Sacramento on my own. They didn’t let anyone travel with me, there was no security, nothing.” When I got back from Sacramento.

Then I had to isolate my children and people in my house during this time. It was just a huge inconvenience. This is the reason for my anger. “

James was approved to return to training Thursday afternoon after a second negative PCR test was posted in 24 hours. James has returned eight negative tests in total since his return to Los Angeles, before he was allowed to reconnect with the team on Thursday, ESPN sources reported.