LeBron James implied in a tweet that it was “fishy” he had to miss four games over a 10-day stretch in the NBA’s COVID-19 protocol, and he appears to have been vindicated.
James has been cleared to return for the Lakers, the NBA announced Thursday, one day before a game with the crosstown Clippers
“Following two negative PCR tests conducted more than 24 hours apart, Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James has cleared the NBA’s Health & Safety Protocols,” the league said in a statement. “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.
ESPN reported James tested negative eight times since Saturday.
The news comes at a crucial juncture for the Lakers, who have started the season a disappointing 12-11. They currently hold the sixth seed in the Western Conference, but six teams — seeds No. 4-9 — have 11 or 12 wins.
![LeBron James has been cleared to return by the NBA COVID protocols, one day after he tweeted something fishy was going on.](https://cdn.statically.io/img/nypost.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2021/12/GettyImages-1236880029.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1024)
James missed Tuesday’s game against the Kings, and had been slated to miss the Clippers tilt as well as games against the Celtics and Grizzlies in COVID-19 protocol.
On Wednesday, James tweeted that something “REAL fishy” — using five successive fish emojis — was going on.
Between injuries (most notably an abdominal strain), a suspension for a scuffle with the Pistons’ Isaiah Stewart and COVID-19 protocol, James has missed 12 of the Lakers’ 23 games this season.