Although a return to the Orlando bubble has not yet been put into stone, the New Orleans pelicans have provided some clarity on the situation of novice Zion Williamson on Wednesday.
The team announced Wednesday afternoon that Williamson has been tested daily for coronavirus since he was away from the team. The pelicans added that although there are no timetables for his return, Williamson “intends to fully rejoin the team.”
Daily tests for Williamson, who left the team on July 16 due to a family medical emergency, are a key component of when he can return to the team. According to the NBA protocol, if Williamson’s absence lasts seven days or less, he must return to quarantine for only four days on his return.
If he has been gone for more than a week, he will remain in quarantine for only four days, provided he has a negative test for the last seven days that he has gone. If Williamson didn’t test daily, he would have to quarantine for at least 10 days.
The pelicans open their eight seeding games on July 30 against Utah Jazz on the opening night of the league restart. In order for Williamson to be eligible to play in that game, he should rejoin the bubble by Sunday, July 26th.
New Orleans has its first scrimmage game Wednesday night against Brooklyn nets.
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