Dr. Sikka (l) is currently one of 10 people serving on the NBA's sports science committeeNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
The Mayo Clinic and T'Wolves VP/Basketball Performance & Technology Dr. Robby Sikka are spearheading an NBA study that "aims to establish what percentage of NBA players, coaches, executives and staff have developed antibodies to the coronavirus," according to Malika Andrews of ESPN.com. The initiative, which is supported by the league office and the NBPA, is "expected to have the participation of all 30 teams." As practice facilities begin to open around the league, NBA officials are "continuing to seek information about best practices to mitigate risk of infection for players and staff." Sikka, one of 10 people on the NBA's sports science committee, has "become one of the league's resources." Assessing the "prevalence of antibodies in NBA personnel will help teams identify which people might have a lower risk of contracting COVID-19." The study is "expected to be completed in June." It could help "identify which NBA personnel have had the coronavirus but were asymptomatic and, therefore, help map the spread of the disease in the league." The Mayo Clinic "hopes the study will help validate the less-invasive method, making it easier for widespread antibody testing in the general public" (ESPN.com, 5/19).
