Second Player Tests Positive for COVID-19
By Dorothy J. Gentry
Sports Editor
In an unforeseen turn of events, the Dallas Mavericks have shut down their team training facility for cleaning, and contact tracing has begun as the result of a fourth Mavericks player entering into the NBA’s “health and safety protocol.” The program was put into place to address the spread of the Coronavirus throughout its League.
First reported by Shams Charina of The Athletic NBA and confirmed by Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News, forward/center Maxi Kleber has entered isolation/quarantine due to COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
He joins teammates Jalen Brunson, Dorian Finney-Smith and Josh Richardson who are still quarantined in Denver. One of them tested positive after the Mavs’ game in Denver on January 7th. Per Townsend’s report, of the four Mavs now out, two have tested positive and two are due to contact tracing.
Kleber, a growing favorite among the Mavs fanbase, started Saturday night’s game at American Airlines Center against the Orlando Magic. He played just under 24 minutes and finished with 5 points and 3 rebounds, coming 1 board shy of his 1,000th career rebound in the Mavs 112-98 victory, their third consecutive.
Before Saturday night’s game and Sunday’s latest development, Carlisle talked about the effect the pandemic is beginning to have on the League now that it is not in a Bubble.
“We have to remain calm. We have to have a plan for adversity. We knew it was a realistic possibility and now we are dealing with it.”
Due to Saturday night’s game, the Mavs were not previously scheduled to practice on Sunday. They have a game on Monday night at American Airlines Center against the New Orleans Pelicans. As of Sunday, the game was still scheduled to be played.
Due to the ongoing pandemic, the Mavs franchise decided before the season to not allow any fans at the games.
Stay tuned for more on this breaking story.
