Lakers' LeBron James placed in NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, could miss several games

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James was placed in the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the team announced, and missed Tuesday’s game against the Sacramento Kings.

While the Lakers did not say whether James tested positive for COVID-19, a person familiar with the situation said James will miss several games. The person requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the situation.

James, who said at the team’s media day in late September that he is vaccinated, could miss as many as 10 days per the league’s health and safety protocols. James could return sooner if he returns at least two consecutive negative COVID tests collected at least 24 hours apart, per league guidelines.

James has missed 11 games thus far for the Lakers, who entered Tuesday in seventh place in the Western Conference with an 11-11 record. He missed two games with right ankle soreness, eight games with a strained stomach muscle and one game due to the first suspension of his 19-year career.

James returned from the one-game ban last week and posted three consecutive games with at least 30 points as Los Angeles went 2-1. The Lakers are 7-4 this season with James in the lineup. They are 4-7 without him and face the Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Boston Celtics and Memphis Grizzlies over the next 10 days.

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