The LA Clippers’ Lou Williams will have to quarantine for 10 days.
LA Clippers’ star guard Lou Williams will have to quarantine for 10 days when he returns after was announced that the NBA would look into his activities outside of the Orlando bubble.
The Clippers had a pretty good start with things during their scrimmage against the Orlando Magic, winning that contest while also having the likes of Ivica Zubac, Marcus Morris, and Landry Shamet all still missing from the bubble.
For the squad, the scrimmage was a great way to shave off some rust and get back into a playing format and it helped Lou Williams especially, who scored 22 points off of the bench and once again proved why he is the best sixth man in basketball.
On Saturday though, news broke that the NBA would be investigating Williams and his activity outside of the Orlando bubble on an excused absence which could lead to an extended quarantine process.
The NBA is investigating Clippers guard Lou Williams’ activities while on excused absence to assess the length of his re-quarantining process, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 25, 2020
As for the story, Williams left the NBA bubble in Orlando to attend a funeral service in Atlanta, Georgia but according to Williams, he admits he attended a gentleman’s club with popular rapper Jack Harlow the night before, meaning he broke his quarantine protocol the team gave him before his absence.
The funeral service was for Paul G. Williams, the grandfather of Williams, who played a huge role in Williams pursuing basketball at a young age.
Long Live the Great Paul Williams Sr.
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) July 24, 2020
Following rumors that Williams was out partying with Jack Harlow, both parties took to Twitter to exclaim that a picture that surfaced of the two together was in fact an older picture and Williams attested to the hashtag #MaskOn, after saying he wasn’t partying in downtown Atlanta.
Ask any of my teammates what’s my favorite restaurant in Atlanta is. Ain’t nobody partying. Chill out lol #Maskon #inandout
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) July 24, 2020
As for the implications of the matter, the league investigated and now Williams will have to quarantine for ten days upon his return instead of the previously required four had he not broken protocol. This extended quarantine will cause him to miss the team’s first two games, the first of which is against the rival Los Angeles Lakers.
His absence adds to the list of players still missing which also includes Montrezl Harrell and Patrick Beverley who are not with the team for personal reasons that will have to re-quarantine as well. News on both of those players has been scarce so their availability for the opener on Thursday still remains to be seen.
The Clippers lucked out that Williams will only miss two games as they need Williams if they want any chance at an NBA Finals opportunity.