Commissioner Adam Silver joins health and safety protocols, misses Game 5 of NBA Finals between Boston Celtics, Golden State Warriors

SAN FRANCISCO – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has canceled plans to attend Game 5 of the NBA Finals between Golden Empire Warriors and Boston Celtics on Monday night because of tournament health and safety protocols.

Silver usually attends all Finals.

“Great timing,” he told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

The federation did not say whether Silver tested positive for COVID-19 or is considered a close contact of the infected person, nor released any details about his health.

It’s also unclear when Silver will be able to return to the game. Part of his commissioner role involves presenting the league’s championship trophy, which a team will be awarded on Thursday in Boston or Sunday in San Francisco.

Silver has been an NBA commissioner since February 2014. This is the ninth series of championships the league has hosted during his tenure, including the 2020 season that continues inside the bubble at Walt. Disney World in Florida during the early stages of the pandemic.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.