Burks enters league health and safety protocols
DALLAS — Alec Burks, a big part of the Knicks’ season-high four-game winning streak, has entered the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
The backup guard was ruled out of Friday’s game against the Mavericks, and there’s no timetable for his return. Derrick Rose, the last Knick who entered health and safety protocols, missed nearly four weeks and had a nasty time with the virus.
The Knicks did not disclose whether Burks tested positive.
“We’re just making sure that we will follow the guidelines,” Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau said. “And I think it’s pretty common right now that you see there are a number of players that it’s happened to throughout the course of season.
So when you start off the season you prepare for all these situations.”
Burks, 29, is coming off a strong stretch that includes his fourth-quarter heroics in Wednesday’s victory over the Pelicans. He has emerged as one of the team’s top playmakers and scorers off the bench. Without Burks, the struggling Immanuel Quickley could plug the hole, along with Rose and Elfrid Payton. Over the last 11 games heading into Friday, Quickley was averaging 7.8 points over 17.9 minutes while shooting just 33.7%.
Burks averaged over 25 minutes in the same stretch.
The Knicks also entered Friday in the sixth spot in the Eastern Conference but barely ahead of the Miami Heat and just one game on top of the eighth-seeded Hornets. Beginning Sunday against the Pelicans, they play six straight games at home — followed by a six-game trip.
Friday was a rematch against the Mavericks, who toppled the Knicks two weeks earlier at MSG. Dallas represents a significant opponent to a Knicks fanbase that still despises Kristaps Porzingis, and to New York’s front office because it owns the Mavericks’ 2021 first-round pick.
But losing Burks is a blow. The Knicks went 6-6 when he sat earlier in the season with an ankle injury.
Several Knicks get vaccinated: Tom Thibodeau’s team is also playing defense against COVID-19.
The coach revealed Friday that several Knicks players and staff members received vaccination shots.
“I’m not sure how many have gotten it, but I know a number have, and a number of our staff have as well,”
Thibodeau said. “So I think everyone, like the rest of the country, that’s where everyone’s moving toward, and hopefully we can get back to normal at some point.”
A team spokesperson wouldn’t disclose howmany players were vaccinated but called it “a good number.”
In the earlier stages of the vaccine rollout, many top NBA players were skeptical of the vaccine and refused to promote it, according to ESPN. LeBron James declined to reveal whether he’ll take the vaccine, saying it’s a personal decision.
Given their youth and strong health, most NBA players infected with COVID-19 have brushed off the illness and returned to form. Celtics star Jayson Tatum, however, said he’s still feeling the effects over three months after infection. Henowuses an inhaler before games.