American professional basketball player, LeBron James, has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and has been placed in the NBA’s health and safety protocols facility.
TMZ reports that James tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday afternoon and missed Los Angeles Lakers’ game against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night.
James, who has said he is fully vaccinated against the virus, will miss several games.
According to NBA rules, players must test negative on two separate days before they can be cleared to return.
Players who test positive must sit out 10 days.
According to Michael J. Babcock, an executive producer with TMZ Sports, James took three COVID tests on Tuesday.
The first came back positive, the second negative.
A third test was administered as a “tie-breaker” and came back positive.
”I’m told he is asymptomatic at this time,” Babcock tweeted. “The team chartered a private jet to take Lebron back to L.A.”
Tuesday’s game marks James’ 12th absence in the Lakers’ first 23 games this season.
He missed 10 games because of injuries and another because of the first NBA suspension of his 19-year career.
He’s averaging 25.8 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.8 assists this season. If he is out for 10 days, he would miss at least four games.
