Lonzo Ball among three Bulls entering COVID protocols

FILE –Lonzo Ball #2 of the Chicago Bulls watches his three as the bench joins in. Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

Point guard Lonzo Ball was one of three Chicago Bulls players to enter COVID-19 protocols on Sunday.

Ball, the only player to appear in every game for the Bulls this season, will miss Sunday night’s contest against the visiting Indiana Pacers.

Newly signed forward Alfonzo McKinnie and center Tony Bradley also entered the health and safety protocols on Sunday.

Chicago, which has had 14 different players sidelined by COVID-19 issues this season, will also be without head coach Billy Donovan. Donovan landed in the protocols Friday and assistant coach Chris Fleming will handle his duties.

Ball, 24, is averaging 13.2 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 29 starts in his first season with the Bulls.

The No. 2 pick in the 2017 NBA Draft has career averages of 11.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists in 246 games (233 starts) with the Los Angeles Lakers (2017-19), New Orleans Pelicans (2019-21) and Bulls.

The Bulls released Alize Johnson and signed McKinnie on Sunday.

McKinnie, 29, had previously signed 10-day contracts with the Bulls on Dec. 10 and Dec. 20. The Chicago native has averaged 8.0 points and 2.3 rebounds in three games with the Bulls this season.

Bradley, 23, is averaging 3.7 points and 4.4 rebounds through 23 games (seven starts) this season.

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