The days of the bubble in Orlando seem far gone to many, but the threat that COVID-19 poses to the 2021-22 NBA season has only grown since October. As of December 19th, a whopping 71 players are out due to COVID-19 protocols, forcing teams to employ some unfamiliar faces to take the court.
While it led to plenty of jokes on social media, the COVID-19 situation has affected the Clippers as well. Nicolas Batum just recently returned from an ankle injury which was preceded by a lengthy absence due to a COVID-19 diagnosis. He did mention how the virus affected him physically as he was at home in quarantine, but his recent performance in Oklahoma City should give some comfort to Clipper fans worried about his conditioning.