Bulls guard Lonzo Ball has been placed in the NBA’s coronavirus protocols. | Carmen Mandato/Getty Images
Ball, as well as Tony Bradley and Alfonzo McKinnie, each tested into the health and safety protocols leading up to Sunday night’s game with the Pacers, and interim coach Chris Fleming was left counting his blessings.
It was a somewhat nervous sounding laugh from Chris Fleming.
The interim Bulls coach was asked on Sunday how he’s avoided coming up positive on the daily coronavirus testing and staying away from the NBA’s health and safety protocols.
Considering he’s one of the few left in the main traveling party that hasn’t, no wonder he was sounding like a guy that suddenly believed in jinxes.
“I don’t want to touch that,’’ Fleming said.
He then pointed out all the close calls, insisting how he sits next to head coach Billy Donovan every game. Donovan went into the protocols on Friday. And how he went to breakfast with radio announcers Chuck Swirsky and Bill Wennington in Miami, hours before Wennington turned up positive.
“I don’t even want to talk about it,’’ Fleming said with a laugh. “Blessed to still be standing.’’
Especially with yet another wave to hit the Bulls over the weekend.
Donovan was the first domino, and then minutes before Sunday’s shootaround, Tony Bradley and Alfonzo McKinnie were pulled from practice. After the shootaround ended, trainer Chip Schaeffer came into Fleming’s office and let him know that Lonzo Ball also came up positive.
“It’s frustrating for the guys because they … we come to practice, and I know every other team in the league is dealing with this, but you lose two guys [Bradley and McKinnie] right before shootaround, and then right after shootaround Zo [Lonzo Ball] gets pulled. So I think dealing with that mentally — guys come in and they get a focus, they’re together as a group, and then all of a sudden you’re losing guys. That’s what we’re fighting and that’s what the other 29 teams are fighting too.’’
Not to the extent the Bulls have, however.
It’s easier to name the Bulls regular players that haven’t been in the protocol this season, with that list now down to Alex Caruso, Tyler Cook and Marko Simonovic.
The Ball news was especially a gut-punch because the point guard was leading them in minutes played.
“It happened so fast,’’ Fleming said. “If you know how competitive Zo is, it will hurt him. He loves to compete, so it’s tough for him.’’
Fleming did say that he, Donovan, and the rest of the coaching staff have been conducting business as usual the last few days, just doing it over Zoom.
Homecoming?
It was a good news, bad news day for McKinnie, as the Marshall High School graduate went from a hardship exemption player, to a second 10-day contract, to finding out on Sunday he was sticking with the roster, replacing Alize Johnson, who was waived.
Then before taking the court for the shootaround he obviously found out he was headed into the protocol and would miss the game with the Pacers.
“I think Alfonzo has been great for us,’’ Fleming said of the roster move. “Those decisions are always tough.’’
Still ailing
Caruso was still dealing with a left mid-foot sprain, and the team wasn’t going to have clarity on his timetable until later this week when he was scheduled to be re-evaluated.
The other player that they were keeping an eye on was forward Derrick Jones Jr., who came out of the protocol last week, but then strained his left hamstring in his first game back. It was believed to be a mild strain, but Jones was yet to return.
