MIAMI – Thermal protector Avery Bradley has spent almost two weeks without seeing his wife and children after testing positive for COVID-19, a brutal part of his test for the disease.
The sacrifice was worth it though: None of them received the virus.
Bradley confirmed on Tuesday that he had tested positive for coronavirus last month. For anyone, this diagnosis can be daunting. For Bradley, that was especially true given that he chose not to join his then-Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA restart ball at Walt Disney World Resort last season out of concern about COVID. -19 and the possibility of exposing his young son – who has chronic respiratory problems – to the disease.
“I was very nervous,” Bradley said. “It’s just a blessing that no one in my household received COVID. It made me feel much more at ease. It was frustrating to know that the virus was still around. It was hard. It was hard for me and my family. , but I’m glad my kids didn’t have it, my wife didn’t have it, that made me feel so much better.
“But it was hard not to be in my family for 11 days, I think it was, to not be able to see them, to hug my children, to hug my wife. And I’m happy that it’s all over.”
Bradley catching the virus was part of a difficult time for the Heat. They had only eight players available for two games in Philadelphia on Jan. 12 and 14, both losses, while eight others – Bradley among them – were absent due to the virus, and Meyers Leonard came out with what became a season – shoulder injuries.
“No one will 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 14th to miss and that number will continue to rise in the coming weeks. Bradley could be out by the end of the first half at the end of the program in early March, with his leg muscle tense, although he hopes to return before the middle break.
He missed eight games because of COVID-19, then returned, crushed his knee on the comeback, competed in the next two contests, played two more games and then injured the calf.
“It’s really frustrating,” Bradley said. “It’s unfortunate, catching COVID, having a knee contusion and now that. It’s very frustrating. All I can do is stay professional and make sure I do everything I can to come back as soon as possible, make sure I can contribute and help our team in every way we can. “
Bradley is averaging 8.5 points this season. The Heat begins a seven-game trip to Houston on Thursday; Bradley does not expect to travel due to his injury.