NBA announces 16 initial coronavirus positives out of 302 tests

The National Basketball Association and its players union said Friday that the initial round of coronavirus testing for a 22-team restart came back with 16 positive tests out of 302 total (5.3%).

“Any player who tested positive will remain in self-isolation until he satisfies public health protocols for discontinuing isolation and has been cleared by a physician,” the statement said.

The results were compiled after Tuesday marked the first day of a week-long testing window for all players on the 22 teams invited to continue the 2019-20 season in Orlando.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker on Thursday confirmed over a Twitch stream that multiple teammates had tested positive for the virus. The Arizona Republic’s Duane Rankin reported Tuesday that two Phoenix Suns players tested positive.

The Suns would not confirm the positive tests but told Arizona Sports on Tuesday that individual workouts continued as planned at the team’s temporary home of Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum.

That comes as coronavirus numbers in the state continue to climb. Arizona on Friday announced 3,428 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the fifth time in the past eight days the daily addition has surpassed 3,000.

As the Suns and other teams navigate their players’ health, they have through next Tuesday to to fix up their rosters. Travel parties for teams can consist of 15 players on NBA deals with a duo of two-way contracts allowed. Phoenix has both an open roster spot and an open two-way contract it can use to fill out a full roster.

The Suns cannot add a two-way player until Saturday.

Rosters must be set Wednesday, the same day individual workouts will be mandated. Phoenix is set to travel to the bubble July 7.

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