The Hawks could be without Trae Young for some time.
According to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the one-time All-Star has entered the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Atlanta Hawks All-Star guard Trae Young has entered the league’s Covid protocols, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 19, 2021
Young appeared to confirm the report on Twitter.
Stay safe🙄🤦🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️😷 pic.twitter.com/0cBfsg0CaW
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) December 19, 2021
Young has appeared in all 29 of Atlanta's games so far this season, posting averages of 27.3 points, 9.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals.
Young was originally listed as questionable for the Hawks' Dec. 19 matchup with the Cavaliers with left ankle soreness. That game has since been postponed because of "players and staff members entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols."
MORE: Updated team-by-team list of players in health and safety protocols
Why did Trae Young enter the NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols?
As TSN's Gilbert McGregor recently detailed, any vaccinated NBA player is placed in the health and safety protocols after testing positive for COVID-19 or receiving an inconclusive COVID-19 test result.
In addition to receiving a positive or inconclusive test result, an unvaccinated player is also placed in the league's health and safety protocols if they have been deemed to have been exposed to a person who is positive for COVID-19.
MORE: NBA's COVID-19 health and safety protocols, explained
How long will Trae Young be out?
If any player tests positive for COVID-19, they must spend a minimum of 10 days away from their team unless they return two negative PCR tests within a 24-hour span.
Unvaccinated players who are flagged for contact tracing must quarantine for seven days and can return to action should they continue to return negative tests. In most cases, vaccinated players who are flagged for contact tracing will not be required to quarantine, but need seven days of more frequent testing.
In addition to receiving clearance from the league, individual teams can implement a return-to-play program to ensure a player is prepared for the cardiovascular demands of getting back on the floor.
Over the last few weeks, multiple players have tested out of the league's health and safety protocols to return to their team in less than 10 days.
Lakers guard Malik Monk was cleared to fly from Los Angeles to Minnesota to join the team for tonight's game, but ultimately was not cleared to play the game, sources tell ESPN. Russell Westbrook flew from Dallas to Minnesota today after testing out of protocols, per sources.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 17, 2021
Will Trae Young play on Christmas?
Since he entered the NBA's health and safety protocols on Dec. 19, Young would have to test out of the protocols to play in Atlanta's Christmas Day meeting with New York.
If Young is out for 10 days, he could miss Atlanta's next five games.
Hawks upcoming schedule
| Date | Opponent | Time (ET) | Broadcast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun, Dec. 19 | vs. CLE (postponed) | ||
| Wed, Dec. 22 | vs. ORL | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Thurs, Dec. 23 | at PHI | 7:00 p.m. | |
| Sat, Dec. 25 | at NY | 12:00 p.m. | ESPN |
| Mon, Dec. 27 | vs. CHI | 7:30 p.m. | NBA TV |
| Wed, Dec. 29 | at CHI | 8:00 p.m. | |
| Fri, Dec. 31 | at CLE | 7:30 p.m. |
