What's the cost of a haircut these days? For the Rockets, it could be a win.
On Wednesday, reports broke that the Rockets were facing big coronavirus concerns, with The Athletic's Shams Charania and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reporting that several players were sent home as part of Houston coronavirus tracing procedures in place.
The contact tracing protocol was apparently linked to several players getting haircuts at an apartment — not the team facility — prior to the start of the season, per Wojnarowski, leaving their status in doubt for tonight's season opener. John Wall returned a negative test but still may not play in Wednesday night's game.
With James Harden already potentially out of tonight's game after being spotted at an event, breaking the NBA's coronavirus protocols, the Rockets could come up way short in tonight's matchup with the Thunder.
MORE: NBA investigating James Harden strip club video
Here's what we know:
Is John Wall playing tonight?
Per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, Rockets coronavirus contact tracing protocols kicked in after rookie Kenyon Martin Jr. was linked to haircuts taking place away from the team facility that featured several other players on the team, including new guard John Wall.
There was a group of Houston players -- including Martin, John Wall, DeMarcus Cousins -- away from the facility at an apartment getting haircuts, sources said. That's led to the contact tracing on Wall and Cousins as team awaits more testing results on Martin, sources said.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 23, 2020
Several players linked to the Rockets' coronavirus contact tracing procedure were sent home, leading their availability in question for the Rockets season opener on Wednesday night:
- John Wall (Negative test)
- DeMarcus Cousins (Negative test)
- Ben McLemore (Tested positive)
- Kenyon Martin Jr. (Tested positive)
- Jae'Sean Tate (Inconclusive)
McLemore's test was not related to the tests taken by others. More tests must be taken in order to determine the veracity of the previous test results.
Additionally, James Harden's availability is in question after being video-taped away from team facilities. Initial reports indicated that Harden may have been at a strip club, but Harden clarified he went to an event at just a club (not of the strip variety).
James Harden clarified that the event in question was not at a strip club. By doing so, he admits violating the NBA’s COVID-19 protocols, which prohibit players from going to bars, lounges or clubs or social events with more than 15 people. pic.twitter.com/K7GnJTxGBo
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 23, 2020
Per Wojnarowski, Martin is not currently feeling any coronavirus symptoms.
