The NBA will enforce an extended quarantine on Lou Williams after an investigation into his absence from the Orlando campus.
What We Know:
- The Los Angeles Clippers approved an absence for Williams to tend to a personal matter. On Thursday night, rapper Jack Harlow posted a picture of the two of them together. In the now deleted post, the two can be seen at an Atlanta strip club. Harlow tried to cover up their tracks, tweeting “That was an old pic of me and Lou. I was just reminiscing cuz I miss him.” However, the photo showed Williams wearing face mask provided by the NBA in Orlando.
- The league launched an investigation into the matter to determine exactly what the situation was and for how long Williams would have to quarantine. Williams told league security that he was in Atlanta for a funeral and that he did in fact visit Magic City strip club. He claims that there were no entertainers and that he only went to pick up dinner.
- NBA Twitter had fun with the information over the weekend. Williams reiterated that he just went to Magic City to get some wings, and Magic City literally named their signature wings after him: “Louwill Lemon Pepper BBQ Wings”.
Leave it alone. Just enjoy the memes lol https://t.co/sGB9zIFIkt
— Lou Williams (@TeamLou23) July 26, 2020
https://twitter.com/jemelehill/status/1287171606008143872
Lou Williams should pay his fine with $1 bills
— Doug Kezirian (@DougKezirian) July 26, 2020
- NBA protocols require players to quarantine for four days when returning from an excused absence. Zion Williamson recently returned to the bubble and must quarantine for four days. After the league’s investigation, Williams must quarantine for ten days. He will miss the Clippers’ first two scheduled games and forfeit up to $150,000 in salary, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
- When asked, Clippers coach Doc Rivers said that he “didn’t enjoy” seeing the picture of Williams at Magic City. Since joining the Clippers in 2017, Williams has been one of their most important players. He has consistently averaged close to 20 points per game and won the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year Award in 2018 and 2019. The Clippers are also missing Patrick Beverly and Montrezl Harrell, who are also away on excused absences.
Williams is the most recent player to be in hot water with the league. Richaun Holmes and Bruno Caboclo both received extended quarantines and enhanced testing for violating league protocols.
