Bucks player goes on virus protocol before Game 5
PHOENIX >> In the most important games of this NBA season, COVID-19 continues to make its impact felt.
The Milwaukee Bucks will be without reserve forward Thanasis Antetokounmpo, who was placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocol before Game 5 of the finals on Saturday. The NBA also announced that Sean Wright wouldn’t be able to officiate due to the league’s health and safety protocols.
Wright was replaced by James Williams.
The loss of Antetokounmpo doesn’t have an impact on the Bucks rotation; he has played 45 minutes in 13 playoff games. The main concern is whether Thanasis’ absence will impact his brother, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. The siblings are very close.
“Certainly those two guys’ connection and the closeness, everybody knows it,” Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer said. “But you know, I think we’re all good. We’re all ready. Ready to go.”
Budenholzer also said that the Bucks won’t have a full staff on the bench for Game 5, though he didn’t specify who would miss the game.
The NBA is trying to get through the finals without a major COVID-19 outbreak as cases are rising throughout most of the country and the world. Suns point guard Chris Paul missed the first two games of the Western Conference finals against
the LA Clippers because he was in the league’s protocol.
“I think the health and safety protocols are on the front of everybody’s minds right now,” Budenholzer said. “I think we’re in a good place and ready to go.” DIVERSITY HIRES ‘REALLY COOL’ >> Suns coach Monty Williams said Saturday that he’s pleased a handful of Black head coaches have been hired around the NBA over the past few weeks.
Top Suns assistant Willie Green could be joining that group soon: His name has been linked to the New Orleans Pelicans job over the past few days.
“I think the last few weeks have been really cool in that regard,” Williams said. “The way I look at it is I just wanted everybody to have the same opportunities to get a job and I just think it’s important that African Americans, white, brown, it doesn’t matter, I just wish that every team would have a lengthy process so that guys would get the experience, that’s how I view it.”
UNSELD JR. HIRED AS WIZARDS COACH >> Wes Unseld Jr. was hired as coach of the Washington Wizards on Saturday, bringing the former Denver Nuggets assistant full circle with the franchise his father led to its only NBA title.
Unseld carries a strong resume apart from his name. He spent the past six years with the Nuggets and was promoted to associate coach under Michael Malone last season.
He began his career with Washington as a scout in 1997 before working his way up to assistant coach, a job he held from 2005-2011.
“Becoming a head coach in the NBA is a goal that I have pursued my entire adult life,” Unseld said. “To have that dream realized by coming full circle back to Washington is truly special.”
Unseld spent one season with Golden State and two with Orlando between his stints in Washington and Denver. With the Nuggets, he helped the developments of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.
“Wes is one of the most highly regarded assistant coaches in the NBA and clearly separated himself from the large and diverse group of candidates we considered,” Wizards general manager Tommy Sheppard said.
“His strong record as an in-game tactician along with his attention to detail on both sides of the ball combined with his reputation for player development and outstanding character during his 20-plus years of coaching left no doubt that he was the best choice to guide our team to the next level.”