LeBron James Cleared to Return by NBA After New Round of Covid Tests

LeBron James has been cleared to return to the lineup for the Lakers’ game against the LA Clippers on Friday after a brief stint in the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the league announced Thursday.

James has returned eight negative tests since returning to Los Angeles on Tuesday afternoon, sources told ESPN, after the Lakers star returned an initial positive test for COVID-19 in Sacramento on Tuesday morning. The Lakers chartered an airplane to fly James from Sacramento back to L.A., sources said.

In a statement on Thursday, the league said James didn’t in fact test positive, and the NBA detailed the chain of events that led to him missing the Kings game and being reinstated.

“James was originally placed in the Protocols on Tuesday, November 30 after a series of tests delivered conflicting results, including an initial positive test that was collected on November 29. Additional testing confirmed that he is not a positive case,” the league said.