Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Celtics' Smart, two Lakers latest to test positive

Written by 
Published in Basketball
Thursday, 19 March 2020 22:57

The coronavirus continues to make its way through the NBA, with Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart and two Los Angeles Lakers players testing positive for COVID-19.

Both teams released statements Thursday announcing the positive tests, though they did not identify the players by name.

Smart posted a tweet later Thursday confirming that he had tested positive.

"I'm OK, I feel fine. I don't feel any of the symptoms," Smart said in a video he posted on social media. "But I can't stress enough practicing social distancing and really keeping yourself away from a large group of people and just really washing your hands and help protect yourself. And help protect others by protecting yourself."

Smart was more emphatic in his tweet in addressing the issue of social distancing, writing, "The younger generation in our country must self distance. This is not a joke. Not doing so is selfish. Together we can beat this, but we must beat it together by being apart for a short while."

Boston said in its statement that the Celtics player, later confirmed to be Smart, was tested because of "exposure to a known positive case." The team said he was not exhibiting symptoms and has been in isolation for several days.

Smart, 26, said he was tested five days ago and got his results Thursday evening. Lakers players were tested Wednesday and received their results a day later. L.A. was prompted to have its players tested after four Brooklyn Nets players tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday.

The Lakers' last game was against the Nets on March 10 at Staples Center. The NBA season was suspended indefinitely the following day.

Fourteen players out of the Lakers' 17-man roster (including two-way contracts) were tested, league sources told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne. Several players were granted permission earlier in the week to leave town, sources told ESPN.

"We learned today that two Lakers players have tested positive. Both players are currently asymptomatic, in quarantine and under the care of the team's physician," the Lakers said in a statement.

play
2:34

Woj shares how the NBA is trying to contain the coronavirus

Adrian Wojnarowski breaks down how the NBA is attempting to stop the spread of the coronavirus within the league.

"All players and members of the Lakers staff are being asked to continue to observe self-quarantine and shelter at home guidelines, closely monitor their health, consult with their personal physicians and maintain constant communication with the team."

Lakers players arrived at the test site and never left their vehicles during the procedure, which involved a cotton swab being placed up players' nostrils to secure a culture. Sources told ESPN's Ramona Shelburne the test took a matter of minutes. The Lakers will now test coaches and support staff who had close contact with the players, sources told Shelburne.

Before the results were released, Lakers guard Danny Green appeared as a guest on the "Full 48" podcast with Howard Beck and acknowledged the testing.

"We are all still waiting back as a group, as a team, to figure out what our results are so we know the necessary steps to take moving forward," Green said. "But either way, negative or positive results, we still have to be quarantined for a couple of weeks so I am in the house as well, just like you are."

Green added that a contingent of Lakers players were at the team's practice facility in El Segundo, California, on Tuesday for their staggered individual workouts when the Nets news came out.

At that point, the Lakers' training staff started working on a testing plan.

"Usually the schedule has been, 'All right, your workout time is this time,'" Green said on the "Full 48." "Then it was like, 'We are pretty much shutting down for the next two days. Tomorrow, it is not mandatory but we highly suggest that you guys come in and get tested.' Which we did so [Wednesday] morning, we got tested and the gym is shut down for the next two weeks. Most of us were in the gym or at the facility when we heard the news."

Lakers star LeBron James posted an Instagram story Thursday morning with him participating in a live video meditation on his cellphone. He later posted videos of his wife, Savannah, working out in their home gym accompanied by the hashtag #RONACHRONICLES.

Imani McGee-Stafford, the sister of Lakers starting center JaVale McGee, took to Twitter on Thursday to report that her brother was not one of the two Lakers players infected.

The tally of known cases in the league is up to 14: Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz; Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons; Kevin Durant and three other Nets players; Smart; one member of the Denver Nuggets organization; three individuals within the Philadelphia 76ers organization; and the two Lakers.

"The health and well-being of our players, our organization, our fans, and all those potentially impacted by this situation is paramount. As always, we appreciate the support of our fans, family and friends, and wish everyone affected by this virus a speedy recovery," the Lakers' statement concluded.

Read 2145 times

Soccer

Ghana fail to reach AFCON for 1st time since '04

Ghana fail to reach AFCON for 1st time since '04

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsGhana failed to reach the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time...

Chawinga available as KC seeks NWSL final berth

Chawinga available as KC seeks NWSL final berth

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsKansas City Current forward and 2024 NWSL Golden Boot winner Temwa...

Ronaldo bicycle kick helps Portugal reach QFs

Ronaldo bicycle kick helps Portugal reach QFs

Portugal sealed a Nations League quarterfinal berth after a Cristiano Ronaldo double with a penalty...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

Sources: NBA discussing tourney-style AS Game

Sources: NBA discussing tourney-style AS Game

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThe NBA is in serious discussions on a new tournament-style format...

Jokic (personal) out for Denver's NBA Cup opener

Jokic (personal) out for Denver's NBA Cup opener

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsThree-time league MVP Nikola Jokic will miss the Denver Nuggets' NB...

Baseball

Dodgers' Graterol (shoulder) to sit first half of '25

Dodgers' Graterol (shoulder) to sit first half of '25

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsLOS ANGELES -- Dodgers right-hander Brusdar Graterol will miss the...

FanDuel, MLBPA settle player likenesses lawsuit

FanDuel, MLBPA settle player likenesses lawsuit

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMajor League Baseball's players union settled a lawsuit that accuse...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated