Luka Doncic enters NBA’s COVID-19 protocols: Will Mavericks star play on Christmas Day?

Luka Doncic has entered the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols, the Mavericks announced Wednesday, Dec. 22.

Doncic has appeared in 21 games this season, averaging 25.6 points, 8.5 assists and 8.0 rebounds on .447 / .326 / .698 split shots. He had missed five straight games with an ankle injury before entering the league’s health and safety protocols.

Including Doncic, the Mavericks currently have seven players on health and safety protocols.

MORE: Updated team-by-team player list in health and safety protocols

Why did Luka Doncic enter the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols?

As TSN’s Gilbert McGregor recently detailed, any vaccinated NBA player is placed on 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 result, an unvaccinated player is also placed in league health and safety protocols if they are deemed to have been exposed to a person who is positive for COVID-19.

MORE: Explanation of NBA COVID-19 Health and Safety Protocols

How long will Luka Doncic 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 24 hours.

Unvaccinated players who are marked for contact tracing must remain in quarantine for seven days and can return to action if they continue to return negative tests. In most cases, vaccinated players who are marked for contact tracing will not be required to self-quarantine, but will 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 that a player is prepared for the cardiovascular demands of returning to the court.

Over the past few weeks, several players have tested the league’s health and safety protocols to return to their team in less than 10 days.

Will Luka Doncic play at Christmas?

Since entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Dec. 22, Doncic would have to test the protocols to play the Jazz on Christmas Day.

If Doncic is out for 10 days, he could miss six games.

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