Two more NBA coaches to miss games due to COVID-19 protocols: ESPN

Phoenix Suns coach Monty Williams and Portland Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups have entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols and will miss their respective teams’ upcoming games. 

Williams and Billups join the Los Angeles Lakers’ coach Frank Vogel and Chicago Bulls’ coach Billy Donovan in the league’s COVID-19-related protocols, according to ESPN.

The Hill has reached out to the Suns and to the Trail Blazers for comment. 

Cases in the NBA have surged among players, causing several games to be postponed. 

It has made it difficult for some teams to field lineups, with a number of players previously out of the league returning, such as former all-star Joe Johnson. 

It’s also hit the league’s coaches, with Alvin Gentry of the Sacramento Kings and Rick Carlisle of the Indiana Pacers recently returned to coaching after spending time in the protocols, per ESPN. 

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said last week that despite the difficulties, he had no intention of pausing the league’s season. 

“We have, of course, looked at all the options, but frankly we are having trouble coming up with what the logic would be behind pausing right now,” Silver said to ESPN at the time.

“As we look through these cases literally ripping through the country … I think we’re finding ourselves where we knew we were going to get to over the past several months, and that is this virus will not be eradicated, and we’re going to have to learn to live with it.”

The NBA has also tightened its COVID-19 protocols and mandated that players and staff wear masks during team activities with the exception of during on-court basketball activities.