Miami – Miami bodyguard Avery Bradley went almost two weeks without seeing his wife and children after testing positive for COVID-19, a brutally harsh part of his ordeal with the disease.
However, the sacrifice was worth it: none of them contracted the virus.
Bradley confirmed Tuesday that he tested positive for coronavirus last month. For anyone, that diagnosis can be overwhelming. For Bradley, that was especially so, given he chose not to join his then-team, the Los Angeles Lakers, in the NBA reset bubble at Walt Disney World last season over concerns about COVID-19 and the possibility of expose your child, who has chronic respiratory problems.
“I was really nervous,” Bradley said. “It is a blessing that no one in my household has COVID. It made me feel so much more at ease. It was frustrating to learn that the virus still exists. It has been tough. It has been difficult for me and my family, but we are getting over it. I’m happy that my children didn’t have it, my wife didn’t have it, that made me feel much better, “he added.
“But it was hard not being with my family for 11 days, I think it was, not being able to see them, hugging my children, hugging my wife. And I’m happy that everything is over. “
For Bradley, contracting the virus was part of a challenging time for the Heat. They only had eight players available for two games in Philadelphia on January 12 and 14, both defeated, while eight others, Bradley among them, were out for virus-related reasons. and Meyers Leonard was inactive with a shoulder injury, an injury that will keep him out for the rest of the tournament.
“No one is going to feel sorry for us,” said Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
Bradley has appeared in just 10 games for Miami this season. Tuesday’s game against New York is the fourteenth to be missed, and that number will continue to rise over the next several weeks. Bradley could be out until the end of the first-half schedule in early March with a calf strain, although he hopes to return before the midseason break.
He missed eight games due to COVID-19, then came back, hurt his knee on his return, missed the next two games, played two more games and then hurt his calf.
“It’s really frustrating,” Bradley said. “It’s unfortunate to get COVID, to have a knee contusion and now this. It’s very frustrating. All I can do is stay professional and make sure I’m doing my best to get back as soon as possible, make sure I can contribute and help our team in any way I can. “
Bradley is averaging 8.5 points this season. The Heat will begin a seven-game road trip in Houston on Thursday; Bradley is not expected to travel due to his injury.
