Hassan Whiteside Day-To-Day With Calf Strain

The seven-footer isn’t expected to play on Friday, according to head coach Luke Walton

As the initial days of training camp turn into full-team workouts in preparation of Friday’s preseason opener, the Sacramento Kings have a few players undergoing some health complications.

According to head coach Luke Walton, center Hassan Whiteside is currently experiencing soreness in his right calf.

“He has a strain–a mild strain, in his right calf,” Walton said during media availability on Monday afternoon. “He is day-to-day.”

When asked of Whiteside’s status for Friday’s preseason opener in Portland, Walton said it was unlikely that the shot-blocking center would see the floor in the team’s first exhibition.

“I wouldn’t see him playing by the first one. Again, who knows if we are even playing the first one (due to positive COVID-19 tests within the Portland organization). He is out there on the court with our coaches doing one-on-O, moving and getting shots. He looks good. He’s also doing stuff in the weight room. But someone his size, you kind of want to bring him back a little slower just to make sure that he’s healthy when it’s time to play.”

Whiteside, 31, averaged 15.5 points, 13.5 rebounds and a league-leading 2.9 blocks per game last season for the Trail Blazers.

Staying healthy has not been a problem for Whiteside during his career, as the big has appeared in 343 out of a possible 400 games over his past five seasons.

Besides Whiteside, an undisclosed amount of Kings players are currently undergoing quarantine due to testing positive for COVID-19. The team is not permitted to release the information on those players involved, therefore their identities will not be released.

Sacramento will face the Portland Trail Blazers at the MODA Center in Portland on Friday night at 7:30pm PST.

Related

Why Ben Simmons believes Sacramento is the right place for his NBA comebackSpears: Ben Simmons could be open to long-term stay in SacramentoSacramento Kings agree to deal with former No. 1 pick Ben SimmonsKings’ Jalen Duren pursuit shows Scott Perry isn’t afraid to take big swingsJerry Reynolds on how Ben Simmons could fit with Sacramento’s offenseNBA insiders connect Jalen Duren’s future to Domantas Sabonis’ Kings uncertainty