Harrison Barnes Announces He Has Tested Positive For COVID-19
Jul 15, 2020, 8:59 AM | Updated: 8:59 am
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
The talented forward hopes to join the Kings in Orlando, Florida before the beginning of the season restart on July 31st
Sacramento Kings small-forward Harrison Barnes released a statement on Tuesday afternoon that informed the public of his positive test for COVID-19.
Barnes is the fourth Sacramento Kings player to test positive for coronavirus.
Buddy Hield, Jabari Parker and Alex Len all tested positive for the virus in late June. Since then, Hield and Parker have been cleared to re-join practices, while Len has remained in Sacramento until he can clear the protocols put in place by the NBA.
Both Barnes and Len will need two negative tests in a row within 24 hours of each-other before they can travel to the ‘bubble’ site at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Once the players arrive, they will need to remain in their rooms for a 72-hour self-isolation period before joining their team for practices.
The former NBA Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist had been having a strong season for the Kings, averaging 14.7 points, 4.8 rebounds and a career-high 2.4 assists per game.
If Barnes is unable to play come July 31st, expect Kent Bazemore to move into a starting role. Head coach Luke Walton shared on Tuesday that Bazemore and recently-signed forward Corey Brewer have been taking reps with the starting unit in practices.
Bazemore had been on a tear leading into the season hiatus, averaging 12.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 43-percent from three-point range over the final 13 contests.
Walton also stated that the Kings could run out Bogdan Bogdanovic and Buddy Hield in the same lineup if Barnes is unable to return.
While the team will undoubtedly miss the contributions of Barnes, they have the depth to make a playoff run in Orlando. Sacramento is currently 3.5 games behind the eighth-seeded Memphis Grizzlies, needing to secure sole possession of the ninth seed to qualify for a play-in scenario.
If the Kings can keep pace with Memphis, they will have their shot to end a 14-year period of playoff despair.
