All-star guard Russell Westbrook finally joined his Houston Rockets ahead of the NBA season restart. Westbrook, who previously missed the team’s flight to Orlando after testing positive on coronavirus, arrived in the NBA bubble on Monday.
Westbrook revealed last week on social media that he tested positive but said that he is “feeling well” while being in quarantine. It appears that the 31-year-old guard is now cleared, as he had to produce two negative tests before entering the bubble. However, he will have to be in quarantine for two days before being allowed to join his team’s practices.
Speaking with the media on Monday, Rockets’ head coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters that Westbrook wouldn’t be part of the team’s roster for the first exhibition game due to his late arrival. But, D’Antoni expects him to play in the remaining two scrimmages.
“I do expect that once he clears everything that he’ll be ready to go 5-on-5 and all that,” said D’Antoni. “I would think Friday might be a little early. That’ll be up to the medical staff and Russell himself and see how he feels in the days before. Hopefully, he’ll get in a couple of scrimmages and then be ready for us to play.”
Westbrook is in his first season with Rockets, after joining the team in the summer via trade with Oklahoma City Thunder. He averaged 27.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, 7.0 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
