Two more former Wildcats enter NBA's health and safety protocols

The NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols have two new Wildcat visitors: P.J. Washington of the Charlotte Hornets and Rajon Rondo of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Washington and Rondo were both announced into protocols on Sunday, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania. The pair of former Kentucky Wildcats join a fluctuating group of one-time ‘Cats sidelined due to COVID-19 issues within a franchise.

Lakers guard Rajon Rondo has entered Covid protocols, team says.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) December 26, 2021

Hornets‘ Miles Bridges and PJ Washington have entered health and safety protocols.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 26, 2021

Washington and Rondo join the likes of Enes Kanter Freedom (BOS), Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN), Jarred Vanderbilt (MIN), Nerlens Noel (NYK), Mychal Mulder (ORL), and De’Aaron Fox (SAC) as former Kentucky players currently in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. At one point on Christmas Eve, nine Kentucky players were in the protocols.

The Lakers actually played on Christmas Day in a losing effort to the Brooklyn Nets, but Rondo did not make an appearance on the court. It was his first DNP-CD in 10 days. Despite the Lakers’ on-court problems, having Rondo play or not won’t decide the outcomes of many games.

Charlotte losing Washington, on the other hand, is an untimely blow. The third-year pro is averaging 10.9 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per outing while shooting career-highs in both field goal percentage (46.0) and 3-point percentage (43.0). His role is shrinking, but he’s playing better basketball as a result.

Starting Dec. 26, the NBA began increased testing for COVID-19 as the Omicron variant has infected locker rooms across the league.