NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Sitting Out Finals Game 5 Over COVID Protocols

The NBA isn't back to post-COVID normalcy quite yet.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will not be in attendance for Game 5 of the NBA Finals at Chase Center after entering health and safety protocols, as relayed by OutKick / HoopsWire's Sam Amico on Monday.

There is no current indication as to whether Silver will return by Thursday's Game 6 at TD Garden.

"This is the first time the league has announced health and safety protocol since it began COVID-19 testing before the start of last season," Amico reports. "Silver is vaccinated against the virus, and others who have entered protocols throughout the league this season have returned fairly quickly."

With the series tied at 2-2, Monday night's contest between the Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics will prove seismic for the outcome of the Association's most critical slate of games all year ... and the commish won't be there for it.

OutKick founder Clay Travis reacted to the news, playing offense against the sports media's messaging that mandatory boosters and vaccines were the key to beating COVID.

In 2022, roughly 27 months since the NBA closed in March, the Association still hinders itself with lingering COVID restrictions.

Follow along on Twitter: @AlejandroAveela