Chicago Bulls player Nikola Vucevic has become the latest player to enter NBA health and safety protocols. As reported by journalist Shams Charania, the center has tested positive for COVID-19 and will be out for at least ten days.
The Illinois franchise will face a five-game tour away from the United Center starting this Friday, during which they will not be able to count on their main interior reference. A series of duels against teams as powerful as Warriors, Lakers, Clippers or Nuggets.
At 31, Vucevic’s numbers have been conditioned by sharing the track with top offensive catalysts like DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Lonzo Ball. Consequently, he is only averaging 13.6 points per game, although he has contributed to the Bulls’ record (8-3) with 10.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists.
Now that the Montenegrin will not be able to dress short, substitutes Tony Bradley and Alize Johnson will have to step up and take on a greater load of minutes. However, Billy Donovan could also go for small quintets.
(Cover photo by Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images)
