Heat now whole as starters Bam Adebayo, Kendrick Nunn make it to Disney

Ira Winderman, South Florida Sun Sentinel
·2 min read

All-Star center Bam Adebayo and rookie guard Kendrick Nunn, the only two players that did not travel to Disney World when the team departed on July 8, rejoined the team Tuesday.

According to NBA protocols the two now must quarantine for at least 36 hours and must produce a pair of negative COVID-19 tests.

The Heat have not confirmed the reason for the absences of the two, with many players making late arrivals to the "bubble" type of setup acknowledging positive coronavirus tests.

The addition of Adebayo and Nunn will give the Heat the NBA maximum of 17 players available for the competition at the Wide World of Sports complex.

The Heat open their exhibition schedule Wednesday against the Sacramento Kings, with their regular season to resume Aug. 1 against the Denver Nuggets and the playoffs opening Aug. 17.

Guard Duncan Robinson said he expected the two to rapidly acclimate once cleared to join teammates.

"There will be an adjustment period, that's natural," Robinson said of the NBA's new normal. "But I know those guys have been doing their due diligence and they've been staying in shape, as well. So we're itching and excited to get 'em back, as I know they are to get here.

"Like anything, it will take a little bit of an adjustment period, but that's what practices are for, that's what walkthroughs are for, and scrimmages, us against each other, and going live, and just get reacclimated with that."

Adebayo and Nunn should be available to practice with the Heat by the end of the week, in advance of Saturday's exhibition against the Utah Jazz.

“They’re two great players, two great teammates, so there’s not going to be a problem with fitting them back in,” guard Tyler Herro said. “They’ll get right back into the swing of things. They’ve also been working when they were 100 percent healthy. So we’re excited to get them back here. We really want to get a full team out here and be able to attack this with 100 percent.”

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