LeBron James implied in a tweet that it was “fishy” he had to miss four games over a 10-day stretch in the NBA’s COVID-19 protocol, and he appears to have been vindicated.
James has been cleared to return for the Lakers, the NBA announced Thursday, one day before a game with the crosstown Clippers
“Following two negative PCR tests conducted more than 24 hours apart, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has cleared the NBA’s Health & Safety Protocols,” the league said in a statement. “James was originally placed in the Protocols on Tuesday, November 30 after a series of tests delivered conflicting results, including an initial positive test that was collected on November 29. Additional testing confirmed that he is not a positive case.
ESPN reported James tested negative eight times since Saturday.
The news comes at a crucial juncture for the Lakers, who have started the season a disappointing 12-11. They currently hold the sixth seed in the Western Conference, but six teams — seeds No. 4-9 — have 11 or 12 wins.
James missed Tuesday’s game against the Kings, and had been slated to miss the Clippers tilt as well as games against the Celtics and Grizzlies in COVID-19 protocol.
On Wednesday, James tweeted that something “REAL fishy” — using five successive fish emojis — was going on.
Between injuries (most notably an abdominal strain), a suspension for a scuffle with the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart and COVID-19 protocol, James has missed 12 of the Lakers’ 23 games this season.