As everywhere across the globe, the resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic, boosted by the development of the Omicron variant, has had the consequence of upsetting the life of the NBA. The most prestigious basketball championship in the world had to deal with the absences of many players, placed in an exclusion protocol in the event of a positive test (10 days then 6, since December 28). As a result, some teams had to tread the floors with a very small workforce.
As of January 6, 88 players were on the floor simultaneously, the Washington Wizards and Indiana Pacers then having to deal with eight absences each. A total of 12 games were also postponed because at least one of the two teams could not present the minimum number of players required. But these troubles had an unexpected and even beneficial effect on the careers of a whole panel of players who were no longer necessarily desired in the NBA.
Franchises needed to fill in the gaps because of too many absences and thus resorted to a cascade of short contracts, “ten days contracts” which allowed them to integrate a player into their workforce for a period of ten days. A total of 109 such contracts were signed in December alone. To better understand what this lot represents, only 29 had been recorded over the rest of the year 2021.
IT’S OFFICIAL ️
We’ve signed @bismackbiyombo for the remainder of the season!#ValleyProud pic.twitter.com/FtXAFpXKEE
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) January 11, 2022
For the majority of this myriad of players recalled to the NBA, the interim ended when the lease expired. But others have put both feet in the league like the pivot Bismack Biyombo, whose first two performances were enough to convince the leaders of the Phoenix Suns to hire him until the end of the season. And this despite the presence of the first draft pick 2018, Deandre Ayton, the experienced Javale McGee, and the promising Jalen Smith in the same position as him.
The success was even more resounding for Lance Stephenson, revived by the Indiana Pacers in the absence of many executives. Not seen in the league for nearly three years, “Born Ready” did ten days with Atlanta before surprising his world by arriving in Indiana. No one expected him to score 30 points against the Brooklyn Nets for his home debut on January 6 (including 20 in the first quarter off the bench). The former LeBron James teammate even rekindled his air guitar celebration.
Others didn’t have to shine to savor what looks like a last career in the NBA. Recalled by the Boston Celtics at 40 and over seen since 2017-18, Joe Johnson was able to savor a tough final basket against the Nets after the crowd convinced his manager to play him with “We want Joe“ (“We want Joe”). Mario Chalmers didn’t even have time to play, but was grateful for the chance the Miami Heat gave him at 35. “These are the little things that you appreciate more the second time around … Thank you“, tweeted the latter when his contract expired.
For Isaiah Thomas, it is above all bitterness that predominates. At 32, the leader, ex-All star, has tried everything to return to the league for a long time. But he did not convince the Los Angeles Lakers and did not even have the opportunity to speak in the colors of the Dallas Mavericks, contracting the Covid-19 after his first game, which pushed the Texas franchise to get rid of him. What reminds us that the abuse of these “ten days contracts” accentuated the precariousness more than offered real second chances.
