Effects of COVID-19 on Previously Infected NBA Players

[Fencer reregistered]

You have, and it's appreciated. I initially locked the thread but decided to give it a chance because of how you framed the discussion in your OP and effort to keep the discussion on track.

Maybe update the title to add NBA players in it? Figure that should help avoid trolls not even reading the OP and commenting.

Done

Good catch! Thanks for the suggestion and edit.

[sllubwoc]

I was sick for 2 days with it and I drink **** tons of beer and smoke the occasional pack of cigarettes on a golf course. Going off that I'm gonna assume most of these dudes who are in tip top shape made it out just fine. Hell, I remember when most posters on this board were fear mongering the **** out of people. Telling us that sports will never return because players will be dead and if not dead forced to retire because of the effects. Anyone who disagreed where effectively warned or just downright banned. Good times.

[TinmanZBoy]

COVID-19 unlocked Jokic’s MVP season
Donavan Mitchell was playing like a spider man on steroid in the Bubble
Gobert, the patient zero of NBA, the the Hero of Jazz
For James Harden, COVID was just like another bad porn experience
COVID healed KD’s Achilles

[Hornet Mania]

Malik Monk reported taking a few weeks to get right after testing positive for Covid. He got it in early December, took a few weeks before he could even practice, and didn't manage to consistently crack the rotation until the end of January.

Later on Monk said that he felt he could have gotten minutes sooner, so he obviously wasn't suffering major effects for entire Early December-Late January timeline but we don't know exactly when the switch flipped from too ill to play to okay.

[THE J0KER]

Two big stars who suffered COVID19 right before the bubble part of the season started last summer were Westbrook and Jokic. Westbrook was bad in a bubble and played some of his worst basketball in 1st round of the playoff with painful TS%, while Jokic rebounding skills collapsed and in 1st round of the playoff it is actually Jamal Murray who lead the Nuggets (but already in September vs Clippers and Lakers Jokic looks physically much better). Another interesting case from Denver is the case of Michael Porter jr from this season. His numbers before COVID was 20-7-2 TS%69% (3p%42%), then he missed 3 weeks due to COVID19 (10 games), and in 1st month after a comeback (between January 22 and February 22, 16 games) he averages 13-6-1 TS%57% (3p%36%), and since that he is 22-9-1 TS%69% (3p%48%) which means 1st month after comeback can be very problematic even for players reported that have asymptotic/light version of COVID19. But on the positive side we see in all these three cases I mentioned no such thing as "long symptoms" and Westbrook, Jokic, and Porter recovered their game on pre-COVID level (and ever improved) in less than 2-3 months!

In the end, I will report one basketball case from here (Belgrade, Serbia) from last summer not connected with NBA but still gets world attention. Red Star Belgrade player from Nigeria Michael Ojo (former college player of Florida State) has COVID19 with hard symptoms, hospitalized, and recovered. Trying to back in full shape ASAP to be ready to sign a new contract he ignored all doctors' advice to wait couple more weeks before the start of any pro-level practicing and unfortunately literally died on practice court due to a heart attack at the age of 27!

[Fencer reregistered]

I was sick for 2 days with it and I drink **** tons of beer and smoke the occasional pack of cigarettes on a golf course. Going off that I'm gonna assume most of these dudes who are in tip top shape made it out just fine. Hell, I remember when most posters on this board were fear mongering the **** out of people. Telling us that sports will never return because players will be dead and if not dead forced to retire because of the effects. Anyone who disagreed where effectively warned or just downright banned. Good times.

Based on the small sample size from the Celtics, you may be right about the highlighted word. Only 1/3 of the 6 guys known to have caught the disease had serious lingering effects; 2/3 (i.e. "most") did not. And even the 33% minority seems able to cope. Jayson Tatum keeps winning Player of the Week, and Evan Fournier's remarks were made after a great shooting night.

[Capn'O]

Long term effects seems like roulette.

[sllubwoc]

I was sick for 2 days with it and I drink **** tons of beer and smoke the occasional pack of cigarettes on a golf course. Going off that I'm gonna assume most of these dudes who are in tip top shape made it out just fine. Hell, I remember when most posters on this board were fear mongering the **** out of people. Telling us that sports will never return because players will be dead and if not dead forced to retire because of the effects. Anyone who disagreed where effectively warned or just downright banned. Good times.

Based on the small sample size from the Celtics, you may be right about the highlighted word. Only 1/3 of the 6 guys known to have caught the disease had serious lingering effects; 2/3 (i.e. "most") did not. And even the 33% minority seems able to cope. Jayson Tatum keeps winning Player of the Week, and Evan Fournier's remarks were made after a great shooting night.

It effects older people much more then younger. It's really that simple. These dudes are in great shape. Of course some of them will experience worse symptoms but for the most part they will be okay.

[TinmanZBoy]

At NBA level, half of the game is mental, COVID makes them mentally tougher,

[Fencer reregistered]

At NBA level, half of the game is mental, COVID makes them mentally tougher,

That hasn't been proven on the Celtics.

[homecourtloss]

I was sick for 2 days with it and I drink **** tons of beer and smoke the occasional pack of cigarettes on a golf course. Going off that I'm gonna assume most of these dudes who are in tip top shape made it out just fine. Hell, I remember when most posters on this board were fear mongering the **** out of people. Telling us that sports will never return because players will be dead and if not dead forced to retire because of the effects. Anyone who disagreed where effectively warned or just downright banned. Good times.

“Everyone in Florida/Arizona/insert state is going to die,” “people are going to die so the NBA can have a Disney bubble playoff,” “greed over people’s lives,” etc., etc. Constant fear-mongering even after the statistics were known.

And when NONE of that happened, all was conveniently forgotten.

[dhsilv2]

I was sick for 2 days with it and I drink **** tons of beer and smoke the occasional pack of cigarettes on a golf course. Going off that I'm gonna assume most of these dudes who are in tip top shape made it out just fine. Hell, I remember when most posters on this board were fear mongering the **** out of people. Telling us that sports will never return because players will be dead and if not dead forced to retire because of the effects. Anyone who disagreed where effectively warned or just downright banned. Good times.

Based on the small sample size from the Celtics, you may be right about the highlighted word. Only 1/3 of the 6 guys known to have caught the disease had serious lingering effects; 2/3 (i.e. "most") did not. And even the 33% minority seems able to cope. Jayson Tatum keeps winning Player of the Week, and Evan Fournier's remarks were made after a great shooting night.

It effects older people much more then younger. It's really that simple. These dudes are in great shape. Of course some of them will experience worse symptoms but for the most part they will be okay.

The topic is about what impact is DOES have on these players as that's impacting playoff seeding and could impact the playoffs. It clearly did have an impact on last year's bubble and it doesn't look like this year will be untouched. Focus on the topic and don't get into this old people stuff, that's a whole other topic completely outside the scope of basketball.

[Fencer reregistered]

Based on the small sample size from the Celtics, you may be right about the highlighted word. Only 1/3 of the 6 guys known to have caught the disease had serious lingering effects; 2/3 (i.e. "most") did not. And even the 33% minority seems able to cope. Jayson Tatum keeps winning Player of the Week, and Evan Fournier's remarks were made after a great shooting night.

It effects older people much more then younger. It's really that simple. These dudes are in great shape. Of course some of them will experience worse symptoms but for the most part they will be okay.

The topic is about what impact is DOES have on these players as that's impacting playoff seeding and could impact the playoffs. It clearly did have an impact on last year's bubble and it doesn't look like this year will be untouched. Focus on the topic and don't get into this old people stuff, that's a whole other topic completely outside the scope of basketball.

Preconceived notions were what they were. We know a lot more now, after dozens of NBA players actually have contracted the disease. My hope is to round up some of what we've learned.

[Fencer reregistered]

Two big stars who suffered COVID19 right before the bubble part of the season started last summer were Westbrook and Jokic. Westbrook was bad in a bubble and played some of his worst basketball in 1st round of the playoff with painful TS%, while Jokic rebounding skills collapsed and in 1st round of the playoff it is actually Jamal Murray who lead the Nuggets (but already in September vs Clippers and Lakers Jokic looks physically much better). Another interesting case from Denver is the case of Michael Porter jr from this season. His numbers before COVID was 20-7-2 TS%69% (3p%42%), then he missed 3 weeks due to COVID19 (10 games), and in 1st month after a comeback (between January 22 and February 22, 16 games) he averages 13-6-1 TS%57% (3p%36%), and since that he is 22-9-1 TS%69% (3p%48%) which means 1st month after comeback can be very problematic even for players reported that have asymptotic/light version of COVID19. But on the positive side we see in all these three cases I mentioned no such thing as "long symptoms" and Westbrook, Jokic, and Porter recovered their game on pre-COVID level (and ever improved) in less than 2-3 months!

In the end, I will report one basketball case from here (Belgrade, Serbia) from last summer not connected with NBA but still gets world attention. Red Star Belgrade player from Nigeria Michael Ojo (former college player of Florida State) has COVID19 with hard symptoms, hospitalized, and recovered. Trying to back in full shape ASAP to be ready to sign a new contract he ignored all doctors' advice to wait couple more weeks before the start of any pro-level practicing and unfortunately literally died on practice court due to a heart attack at the age of 27!

One thing besides the disease itself -- guys aren't allowed to even properly work out while they have the disease, for fear of permanent cardiovascular harm (or even death, like that example in Europe). So they're usually out of shape when they first get back.

[Nuntius]

In the end, I will report one basketball case from here (Belgrade, Serbia) from last summer not connected with NBA but still gets world attention. Red Star Belgrade player from Nigeria Michael Ojo (former college player of Florida State) has COVID19 with hard symptoms, hospitalized, and recovered. Trying to back in full shape ASAP to be ready to sign a new contract he ignored all doctors' advice to wait couple more weeks before the start of any pro-level practicing and unfortunately literally died on practice court due to a heart attack at the age of 27!

Man, that's awful

[Fencer reregistered]

It sounds like a lot of guys are messed up for weeks or a few months from a cardiovascular standpoint, although there's some doubt whether it's common for this to be worse than the natural effects of being forced to stop seriously working out. ("Forced" by the rules, which were established because the alternative is believed to be risk of serious long-term problems or even death.)

And a few, like Fournier, clearly have it worse than that.

[nikster]

Malik Monk reported taking a few weeks to get right after testing positive for Covid. He got it in early December, took a few weeks before he could even practice, and didn't manage to consistently crack the rotation until the end of January.

Later on Monk said that he felt he could have gotten minutes sooner, so he obviously wasn't suffering major effects for entire Early December-Late January timeline but we don't know exactly when the switch flipped from too ill to play to okay.

Thats the the scary part for fringe NBA players and prospects. They only get so many opportunities to make the league. A couple months not being at 100% could alter their career

[rzzzzz]

I’m relieved that Seth Curry is starting to look like he’s recovering. Guy started out the season with us like he was going to have a career year. Then he went down with Covid, and after “recovering” from the main infection, he looked like he was cooked. Now, the past couple of games, he’s definitely returned to form. (Does Tatum still use the inhaler before he plays? I’m not a Celtics fan, but I’m very happy for the young man to see he’s also finally showing signs of full recovery.)

[dodongo]

Two big stars who suffered COVID19 right before the bubble part of the season started last summer were Westbrook and Jokic. Westbrook was bad in a bubble and played some of his worst basketball in 1st round of the playoff with painful TS%, while Jokic rebounding skills collapsed and in 1st round of the playoff it is actually Jamal Murray who lead the Nuggets (but already in September vs Clippers and Lakers Jokic looks physically much better). Another interesting case from Denver is the case of Michael Porter jr from this season. His numbers before COVID was 20-7-2 TS%69% (3p%42%), then he missed 3 weeks due to COVID19 (10 games), and in 1st month after a comeback (between January 22 and February 22, 16 games) he averages 13-6-1 TS%57% (3p%36%), and since that he is 22-9-1 TS%69% (3p%48%) which means 1st month after comeback can be very problematic even for players reported that have asymptotic/light version of COVID19. But on the positive side we see in all these three cases I mentioned no such thing as "long symptoms" and Westbrook, Jokic, and Porter recovered their game on pre-COVID level (and ever improved) in less than 2-3 months!

In the end, I will report one basketball case from here (Belgrade, Serbia) from last summer not connected with NBA but still gets world attention. Red Star Belgrade player from Nigeria Michael Ojo (former college player of Florida State) has COVID19 with hard symptoms, hospitalized, and recovered. Trying to back in full shape ASAP to be ready to sign a new contract he ignored all doctors' advice to wait couple more weeks before the start of any pro-level practicing and unfortunately literally died on practice court due to a heart attack at the age of 27!

To add to Westbrook, he's usually an iron man. He got a quad injury around August 2020, in the bubble appeared to not have recovered and busted his other quad until around Feb 2021 - don't know if it's related.

So sad to hear about what happened to Michael Ojo. COVID sucks - add to it the rampant misinformation and people who belittle the virus. I recently had a bout with COVID too, and unfortunately my entire business was affected. Worse, my employees - who believe our idiot President's statements - became worse COVID deniers, after contracting mild/asymptomatic cases.

Anyway, I have some weird long COVID symptoms. One of which is when I shower, my fingers/skin feel like I've been swimming for hours. It's really amazing to see how these greats athletes, not only fully recover, but continue their upward trajectory just after recovering.

[ATRAIN53]

This feels like something people who gamble on NBA games should be able to use to their advantage.

This stuff has to effect them somehow and I'm thinking well see it when they are playing intense back to back playoff games and pushing themselves.

Like will some of these guys notice they are short of breath or don't have the extra push and tap out?
Could we be watching a game where a player is not hurt but not playing because of long COVID symptoms?

Or teams that had it early like the Jazz that are now almost a full year out- will they have an advantage?


This is probably why, among other reasons, I don't gamble.