Nets' Joe Harris Leaves NBA Campus Because of Non-Medical Personal Matter

Joseph Zucker @@JosephZuckerFeatured ColumnistAugust 19, 2020

Brooklyn Nets' Joe Harris reacts after hitting a three-point basket against the Toronto Raptors during the second quarter of Game 1 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Monday, Aug. 17, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (Kevin C. Cox/Pool Photo via AP)

Kevin C. Cox/Associated Press

The Brooklyn Nets announced that guard Joe Harris has left the NBA's Walt Disney World Resort campus because of a "non-medical personal matter."

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN noted Harris will not be eligible to return to action unless the Nets are able to extend the series:

Adrian Wojnarowski @wojespn
Down 2-0 to the Raptors, Nets would have to push this series to a Game 6 or Game 7 for Harris to have a chance to return, quarantine and play again based on circumstances of departure, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/V3aohduV5i

Harris played 39 minutes in Wednesday's 104-99 defeat to the Toronto Raptors in the first round of the 2020 NBA playoffs. He had 14 points and 15 rebounds.

StatMuse @statmuse
Joe Harris in the bubble (8 games including playoffs): 19.1 PPG 5.9 RPG* 59.8 FG% 55.1 3P% He had a career-high 15 rebounds today. https://t.co/czsPMYJk6A

With his departure, Harris' season might be over.

The NBA's health and safety protocol stipulates that any player who leaves the campus must quarantine for at least four days upon returning to Orlando. Even if he made it back to the league's campus on Thursday, Harris would be absent for Brooklyn's next two games.

The Raptors took a 2-0 series lead with Wednesday's victory, and they can potentially sweep the Nets by Sunday night.

Taking Harris out of the lineup depletes what was already a short-handed squad.

Injuries made it unlikely Kyrie Irving or Kevin Durant would take part in the NBA's restart. Brooklyn was dealt a further blow when DeAndre Jordan, Spencer Dinwiddie, Wilson Chandler and Taurean Prince opted out.

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Going 5-3 in the seeding round and solidifying their place in the postseason was impressive enough for the Nets given the state of their roster. Few expected them to stand much of a chance against the reigning NBA champions.

Without Harris, the road to the second round becomes even more difficult.