NBA adjusts protocol for players who return inconclusive COVID-19 tests

The NBA has adjusted its protocol for players who produce inconclusive coronavirus tests to help allow for a quicker return to play, the league said through a memo that ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski obtained.

An asymptomatic player in quarantine who tests negative on his first retest can now play in his team's next game if the individual tests negative again within one hour of tipoff.

The previous protocol required players who generated inconclusive results to produce two negative tests at least 24 hours apart to be cleared.

Teams expressed concern over players potentially missing important seeding or playoff games if they produce an inconclusive test result, according to Wojnarowski. The league's new measure could help shorten a player's quarantine period.

Last week, an unidentified Sacramento Kings player reportedly produced the first known inconclusive test result inside the league's bubble.