Oklahoma City Thunder guard Dennis Schroder arrived in the bubble Monday night. Now it’s just a waiting game.
Head coach Billy Donovan said he is not sure when the guard will be available to join the team.
Schroder has to go through coronavirus protocol that includes testing, quarantine and interviewing with the league about what he was doing and who he was with during his absence to ensure he isn’t a COVID-19 risk.
Donovan did not want to make a public estimation about when Shcroder would be able to practice and join the team.
“I don’t have any indication… I don’t want to speak for where those things are at because that’s really between him and the league,” Donovan said.
The Thunder have been missing Schroder over these last five games. They are 2-3 over that time, including a blowout loss to the Memphis Grizzlies and another to the Phoenix Suns in which Oklahoma City was without five key rotation pieces.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has taken the brunt of the lead guard role behind Chris Paul and has struggled at times, averaging more than 16 points but only shooting 36.7% from the field.
Donovan also experimented a little bit with off-ball guards and wings getting more time in the playmaker spot against the Suns.
Schroder is averaging 18.9 points on career-high field goal and 3-point percentages to go with 4.0 assists and 3.7 rebounds per game.
The Thunder play the Heat on Wednesday night and Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
NBA playoffs will begin Monday. If the Thunder have a game on that first day of the playoffs, it would be a week since Schroder’s arrival.
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