Chris Paul Placed Under NBA's Health and Safety Protocols

Chris Paul has been placed under the NBA's health and safety protocols, the Phoenix Suns confirmed Wednesday afternoon, putting his status for the Western Conference finals up in the air.

What happened?

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association released its weekly COVID-19 testing results Wednesday, saying one new player has returned a confirmed positive test out of 164 players tested since June 9. The Suns coach Monty Williams said there's a natural concern for the person, but the league is trying to do everything they can to keep individuals and teams safe.

Why it matters for Chris Paul

This development comes after Chris Paul's 37-point performance in Sunday's Game 4 win to complete a sweep of the Denver Nuggets in the conference semifinals. The Suns will provide another update on Paul's status Saturday, as the conference finals are scheduled to start either Sunday or Tuesday.

What comes next?

If Paul is being placed under health and safety protocols for COVID-19 contact tracing, he'll likely be out five to seven days, which could impact his availability for the conference finals. The Suns returned Sunday after sweeping Denver and had a light practice Tuesday and a full one Wednesday, with Williams saying they're trying to manage these days and keep a game rhythm as best they can. And the team is preparing for the possibility of playing without Paul, with Williams saying they don't want to jump the gun before they have to or make a decision before they have to. But the uncertainty surrounding Paul's status is a concern, as the Suns look to advance to the NBA Finals. So the team will have to wait and see how Paul's situation develops, with the conference finals looming. The Jazz-Clippers series is tied 2-2, and the conference finals will start either Sunday or Tuesday, depending on when that series ends.