Ime Udoka: Jaylen Brown is ‘probably going to miss preseason;’ hopeful he’s back before season starts
Despite missing Saturday’s preseason exhibition against the Toronto Raptors and likely the rest of the preseason slate of games ahead of the Boston Celtics, All-Star forward Jaylen Brown is hoped to be ready to return to the team’s rotation by the start of the 2021-22 NBA regular season, according to head coach Ime Udoka.
The Celtics star tested positive for an asymptomatic case of COVID-19 on Friday less than 24 hours ahead of the Raptors home exhibition game and will have to sit out at least 10 days since his positive test, or until he has returned two negative COVID-19 tests, per the policies of the league’s health and safety protocols.
“As you all know, he tested positive,” relayed Udoka to the press ahead of the Toronto contest.
Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Brown is keeping away from the team and others for the moment. https://t.co/iz1atEfzWo
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 9, 2021
“With the time frame and quarantine, we’re thinking he’s probably going to miss preseason, but hopefully everything goes well and he’s back before … the season starts,” he added.
“When I had it, I had a 10-day period, and so looking at that timeline, he should be back, depending on that. He has a chance to get back with the guys, get in shape, and kind of pick up where he left off.”
“We’re looking at it like that, and hopefully he’s good to go by the season,” offered Udoka.
Every player in Boston Celtics history who wore No. 7 https://t.co/Fc9Ytxm3yx
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 9, 2021
Given that Brown is largely a known factor for Boston, the Celtics coach related he did not anticipate it mucking up the team’s plans for getting the roster up to speed ahead of the season opener.
“We know what we have in Jaylen,” suggested Udoka. “We know his role.”
“Overall, it’s an opportunity for other guys to step in and play, and this is something that teams have had to navigate the last year and a half now, and you have to be ready for that.”
Celtics assistant Will Hardy seen as possible successor for Gregg Popovich to coach Spurs https://t.co/4ZrQ8BNIKL
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) October 9, 2021
Udoka deferred on commenting regarding Brown’s vaccination status, but hopefully, this serves as one more data point on the importance of maintaining best practices concerning COVID-19 prevention regardless.
After a season leading the league in games lost to the virus, it would truly be disheartening to see such the team back in the running for such a dubious — and at least partially preventable — honor.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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