Boston Celtics guard Romeo Langford had a snakebitten rookie season in 2019-20 — after returning from a thumb injury, he battled a series of ankle sprains for months. He got back on the court and pieced together some encouraging performances, but in September, a lingering wrist injury forced him to undergo surgery to repair the scapholunate ligament in his right wrist.
On Wednesday, Langford was given clearance by the medical staff to practice with the team and could have been available for Thursday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets. Instead, however, he landed on the NBA’s health and safety protocol and will once again be sidelined.
“It looked like we were going to be [a full squad],” Brad Stevens said. “I even said it on my radio interview this morning, which I immediately regretted because that just opened up something else to happen, right?”
At this stage, it isn’t clear whether Langford tested positive for COVID or whether he simply was in contact with someone who did. The NBA’s protocols require a player who tests positive to either test negative twice or wait 10 days. They must then go through a full cardiac screening before returning to the court. If Langford was simply exposed to someone with COVID, he will undergo testing as well.
Stevens doesn’t expect Langford to travel with the team to Brooklyn.
Marcus Smart, who himself was just cleared from a calf injury for a return to action, was sympathetic to Langford’s situation.
“He’s been putting the work in day in and day out,” Smart said.. “I know it sucks, it’s been six months since he played and been able to practice with us and things like that. That’s tough, especially when he’s the only one in the gym, having to work by himself and seeing everybody else working together and doing things like that. He’s dedicated himself to the work and I think it’s going to show up out there.”
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