Lue says Clippers are ‘fully vaccinated’

This NBA’s revamped health and safety protocols this season are expected to create two starkly different realities on the job for players who’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19 and those who haven’t, according to reporting from ESPN.

For the Clippers, though, it’ll be just one set of guidelines; coach Tyronn Lue said Wednesday that his team is “fully vaccinated.”

“Our guys are vaccinated,” Lue said before the second practice of training camp at San Diego State. “We just have to do whatever the league tells us to do, we try to abide by the rules and kind of go from there. And we talked about it last year, just being able to adapt and do what we need to do to play the game that we love.”

Previously, team owner Steve Ballmer and President of Basketball Operations Lawrence Frank both declined to disclose their players’ vaccination status, citing privacy concerns. Frank did describe himself as an advocate for vaccinations: “I believe in the science and believe in the evidence as a personal viewpoint.”

According to ESPN, having everyone on a team vaccinated likely will mean that no one will be required to undergo lab-based game day testing or daily testing prior to entering the team’s facility, participating in team-organized activities or interacting with other players and Tier 1 vaccinated personnel.

Unvaccinated players also reportedly are expected to face a set of rules similar to those imposed last year, including a requirement that they be given a locker that is as far from other players as possible and not beside another non-fully vaccinated player.

None of that will be an issue in the Clippers’ locker room, though it seems as if it is setting up to be an issue for other teams.

Several players around the league have expressed reticence about the vaccine, including Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving, Washington’s Bradley Beal, Denver’s Michael Porter Jr., Golden State’s Andrew Wiggins and Orlando’s Johnathan Isaac.

“Certain players, certain people have different beliefs, so I respect those beliefs,” Lue said. “And our guys are fully vaccinated, so I respect their beliefs as well.”

Do-it-all

Justise Winslow’s arduous journey to L.A. has been littered by injuries, including one that required hip replacement surgery and others that ranged from a sore left wrist and a back strain to a torn labrum in his right shoulder.

This season, the 25-year-old Houston native arrives in the Clippers’ camp for the first time feeling much better, he said, and confident he is capable of fulfilling the team’s hopes that he’ll be a versatile differencemaker on both sides of the ball.

“Being able to feel pretty good and feel healthy for two, three months now, I feel that my game is coming back and I’m feeling good about that,” said the 6-foot-6 Winslow, who suffered the hip injury at practice as a member of the Memphis Grizzlies in 2020 ahead of the restart in the Orlando bubble.

“Definitely a tough injury,” he said. “I don’t wish that on anybody, but I’m feeling good.”

The Clippers haven’t seen anything that indicates otherwise, said Lue, who said he and his staff have been impressed with Winslow in his appearances at the team’s practice facility over the past couple weeks. The coach said Winslow has shown a propensity to rebound and push in a way “that adds a different dynamic to our team.”

“And,” Lue added, “he’s able to make passes and make plays, so (Tuesday) we played him at the back up point guard a little bit ... He’ll play some point guard, he’ll play some five (center). He’s gonna do a lot.”

Maybe that sounds like a big ask, but Winslow said he’ll be happy to oblige.

As evidence of his qualifications both in the post and on the perimeter, he cited his rookie season in 2015-16, when he was drafted 10th overall out of Duke and earned All-Rookie Second Team honors by doing a bit of everything for the Miami Heat.

“I started at the five in Game 5 and 6 against Toronto, and I played point guard coming off the bench,” Winslow said. “So, just initially, the hardest part (with the Clippers) is getting used to my teammates more so than getting used to that position. Knowing where they like the ball, who’s cutting, who’s spotting up, knowing tendencies. That’ll be more of the transition more so than playing the four or playing the five, just knowing my guys.”

Clippers employee killed in car crash

The Clippers organization lost a respected and well-liked member of its staff Monday night when Assane Drame, a 26-year-old digital video intern, was killed in a car crash, according to the team.

Since joining the organization in October 2019, Drame helped create a wide variety of content, including making highlight compilations and team and player vignettes. He was working at media day on Monday, recording video of all of the players’ news conferences.

“The Clippers organization mourns the loss of Assane Drame, a dedicated employee, a talented videographer and a loyal friend,” the team said in a statement. “He was a hard worker and a gentle soul, passionate about his craft and kind to his colleagues, earning the respect and admiration of players, coaches and staff.”

There was an immediate outpouring of support and grief on social media, where friends and fans of the Clippers — and Drame’s work — shared their feelings.

That included veteran forward Nicolas Batum, who tweeted: “Just heard the sad news. Rest In Peace King.”

Drame was a native of Blackwood, N.J., and a graduate of Rowan University.