AP source: Heat's Derrick Jones Jr. tests positive for virus
AP Basketball Writer | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 5 years, 5 months AGO
MIAMI (AP) — A person with knowledge of the situation says Miami forward Derrick Jones Jr. has tested positive for the coronavirus, a result that came in shortly after the Heat and other NBA teams began mandatory testing in preparation for next month's resumption of the season.
Jones, the reigning NBA slam dunk contest champion, still plans to play when the Heat get back on the floor at the Disney complex near Orlando next month, said the person who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Thursday because neither the Heat nor the player revealed the result publicly.
League officials have expected that positive tests would be inevitable, and believed that starting a testing regimen now — roughly five weeks before games begin at Disney — will give players with positive results time to recover and get back with their teams before those contests start July 30.
A small number of NBA players publicly revealed Wednesday that they had tested positive, including Sacramento teammates Jabari Parker and Alex Len and Indiana's Malcolm Brogdon. All-Star Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets has also tested positive, a person with knowledge of that situation told AP on Tuesday.
Jones will be a free agent when this season ends. He's averaging a career-best 8.9 points this season for the Heat, who have clinched a postseason berth.
___
More AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
ARTICLES BY AP BASKETBALL WRITER
King James scores 40, but a Lakers coronation has to wait
LeBron James flexed his muscles high above his Lakers black jersey, looking too strong to stop.
King James scores 40, but his Lakers coronation has to wait
LeBron James flexed his mighty muscles high above his Lakers black jersey, looking too strong to stop.
Heat force Game 6, top Lakers to stave off elimination
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Jimmy Butler was slumped over a video board behind the baseline in the final seconds, exhausted, gasping for air.