Derrick Rose could be missing on the Knicks ’four-game trip, which kicks off the post-All-Star rest program, due to undisclosed COVID-19 issues.
Rose, who has missed the last two games after a test was not concluded in San Antonio on March 2, was not with the team in Milwaukee for Wednesday’s practice. He has been ruled out of Thursday’s game against the Bucks.
The Knicks won’t say if Rose tested positive after the inconclusive test, but Thursday will be the 9th from the San Antonio test. The Knicks announced that it had no security protocols.
According to a source, the league forces a player to be out for 10 days, after an additional two days for training.
“To be honest, I can’t answer that because I don’t know,” Thibodeau said when asked if he would rejoin the club during the trip. “I am following what Dr. [Lisa] Callahan and what the league says. Once authorized, it will be available. When we update, we will update you. You’ve seen it throughout the league as it has been managed. We know it’s serious to be with COVID and we want to take all the security measures we can. “
The league announced Wednesday that two unidentified players had tested positive since March 3. According to reports, Rose was due to take a new test on March 3 and needed a negative test for the March 4 game against the Pistons.
Elfrid Payton will remain the starting point, but Rose’s absence means Frank Ntilikina will continue in the rotation.
“I like depth,” Thibodeau said.
Center Mitchell Robinson (broken hand) was re-evaluated, but Thibodeau did not appear to be ready to return soon.
“There’s no set schedule yet,” Thibodeau said. “It simply came to our notice then. We’re probably a little far away. But conditioning has been very diligent in working harder. So its conditioning is pretty good. The basketball part, has not been able to fight or anything like that. But he handles the ball with his left hand and makes a lot of run. We just have to be patient and let it work. “
The Taj Gibson backup center was upgraded to questionable to play on Thursday and returned to parts of the practice.
Immanuel Quickley did not get the Rising Stars honor roll due to the format that fills a world team with international players.
“At the end of the year or at the end of my career, whatever happens, everything will come out and I’ll get what I deserve in the end,” Quickley said. “I definitely feel that I could have been selected. Use it as a motivating factor. “
Austin Rivers did not join the team in Milwaukee due to the birth of his son.
Quickley thought fellow rookie runner-up Obi Toppin should have won the Dunk contest.
“Obi was definitely wasted,” Quickley said. “He did crazy things. I should have won. “