Bates-diop becomes roster’s 12th to enter virus protocols
HOUSTON — The Spurs faced the Rockets on Tuesday without Keita Bates-diop after the backup forward entered the NBA’S COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Assistant coaches Becky Hammon, Mitch Johnson and Darius Songaila also missed the game while in their second week in protocols.
The Spurs added Bates-diop to their injury list about four hours before tipoff. In 39 appearances this season, including 12 starts, the fourth-year pro from Ohio State is averaging 5.6 points and 4.2 rebounds while shooting 31.7 percent from 3point range on 1.1 attempts per game.
“His defense, his length and his versatility have been good for us,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said.
Bates-diop is the 12th Spurs player sidelined after entering protocols this season.
Center Drew Eubanks, forward/center Zach Collins, recently acquired forward Juancho Hernangomez and rookies Josh Primo and Joe Wieskamp are the only players on the current roster who have not been in protocols this season.
Spurs assistant coach Matt Nielsen recently cleared protocols.
Since the start of December, more than 300 players have entered protocols, according to ESPN. The network also reported that more than 500 “tier 1” staffers — personnel regularly within 15 feet of the players — have tested positive this season for COVID-19.
The daily surveillance testing for players, coaches and tier 1 personnel that began around Christmas ended Jan. 15.
Players can clear health and safety protocols and return to play as soon as five days after testing positive, provided they are asymptomatic, vaccinated and likely not contagious.
Like the Spurs, the Rockets
have also been hit hard by COVID this season.
“I haven’t had a full in-person staff meeting in months just because of that,” Rockets coach Stephen Silas said. “It was funny. I was talking to (Washington coach) Wes Unseld Jr. a little while ago and he just got over it. And his lead assistant coach who I worked with in Charlotte, Pat Delany, coached one game and then he was out.
“We try to space out.we try to limit our meetings, limit our interactions and use the technology we have to kind of get the game planning done and what not, but you just don’t know. You can be completely masked and be 6 feet apart and you can take all the precautions you are supposed to and still get it. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take the precautions. It’s just hard to know. But we are doing what we
can.”
Pop thrilled to coach vs. NBA players’ sons
After entering the NBA as a Spurs assistant coach in 1988 under Larry Brown, Popovich is increasingly finding himself squaring off with the sons of players and colleagues he competed against in various capacities in his early years in the league.
That list includes Silas, son of former NBA player and coach Paul Silas, and Unseld Jr., son of former Washington Bullets/ Wizards star and coach Wes Unseld.
“To be very frank with you, it’s a real thrill for me having been around for so long to see these guys, the offspring of people I admired or were colleagues of mine,” said Popovich, who turns 73 on Friday. “It’s fun to
see them be successful and be on their own and try to make their own way, just like with former coaches and assistant coaches and GMS and those sorts of people.
“Seems like wherever we go, there is always someone for me to say hi to. It’s been a lot of fun for me.”
Silas said he has mixed feelings about facing Popovich.
“He’s always great with me,” Silas said. “After the games it’s always great talking to him. During the game, it’s not so much fun because he has every adjustment and he always has his team playing with purpose on both ends of the floor. As much as you are competing, you are trying to learn little things and pick up little things from a legend like that.”