Thunder Regular Season Set To Begin Against Houston With New COVID Protocols

The Oklahoma City Thunder are getting ready to start the NBA season without the bubble the league used to finish last season amid the pandemic.

The league's protocols will include twice-daily testing and intense contact tracing. Violations will lead to fines, suspensions, even draft pick losses and game forfeits. Silver says the league will not require the vaccine and won't allow the NBA to jump the line for it.

"We think that with the combination of all these tools that we're going to be able to quickly isolate a player who tests positive, If that's not the case, we're going to have to rethink our protocols," said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.

The new-look Thunder will open their season Wednesday against James Harden and the Rockets in Houston.