In what feels like a rarity, there was some positive news from the NBA on Monday. The league announced that since coronavirus tests from the Orlando bubble were announced on July 13, 346 players were tested and zero came back positive.
"Of the 346 players tested for COVID-19 on the NBA campus since test results were last announced on July 13, zero have returned confirmed positive tests," the NBA announced in a statement. "In the event that a player on the NBA campus returns a confirmed positive test in the future, he will be isolated until he is cleared for leaving isolation under the rules established by the NBA and the Players Association."
This, of course, is great news. The NBA's Orlando bubble appears to be working ahead of games being played. The Kings first will scrimmage the Miami Heat on Wednesday. They will play three scrimmage games before their eight seeding games.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
The NBA's latest news certainly is positive for the Kings in particular. Ahead of the NBA's restart, the Kings have dealt with four positive tests. Three have cleared protocol and are in Orlando, but one key player still isn't with the team yet. The Kings still are waiting for Harrison Barnes to pass protocol and join them in the bubble.
Once he does, coach Luke Walton made it clear Barnes still has a roster spot on the Kings if he wishes to continue the season.
[RELATED: Walton jokes about growing beard until Barnes rejoins Kings]
"As long as Harrison wants to keep pursuing joining the team, we're not going to replace him," Walton recently said.
NBA
Monday's news is positive for the Kings and the NBA as a whole, and the league only can hope players adhere to the rules and negative tests continue once games begin.