LeBron James cleared to play after false positive COVID test

NBA star LeBron James had a false positive COVID-19 test and is allowed to return to the court Friday, according to the league.

The Los Angeles Lakers star was placed in the league's health and safety protocols after he tested positive and was barred from playing in a game Tuesday, but the NBA now says multiple follow-up tests show negative results.

"LeBron James has cleared the NBA's health and safety protocols," the NBA said Thursday, according to the Washington Post. "James was originally placed in the protocols on Tuesday, Nov. 30 after a series of tests delivered conflicting results, including an initial positive test that was collected on Nov. 29. Additional testing confirmed that he is not a positive case."

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James, 36, initially tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, hours before the Lakers were set to face off against the Sacramento Kings, and was blocked from playing. He is now clear to play against the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.

Fully vaccinated players are not required to go through daily COVID-19 testing, unlike their unvaccinated counterparts. The fully vaccinated players will need to be tested, however, if they come into contact with someone who has tested positive for the virus, according to the NBA league protocols.

Players who test positive for COVID-19, like James did, must quarantine for 10 days or wait until they have submitted two negative COVID-19 test results.

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James said in the fall that he was vaccinated but opined that other players should decide on inoculations for themselves.

"We're talking about individuals' bodies," James told reporters. "We're not talking about something that's political or racism or police brutality, things of that nature. We're talking about people's bodies and well-being. So I don't feel like, for me personally, that I should get involved in what other people should do for their bodies and their livelihoods."

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