OKLAHOMA CITY — Knicks coach Tom Thibodeau has taken to wearing a mask on the sidelines the past two games, at Minnesota and Detroit. Maybe all his assistants should follow suit.
The Post has learned top assistant Johnnie Bryant has been placed in COVID-19 protocols and will be lost for the rest of the road trip that continues Friday against the Thunder and concludes Sunday at Toronto.
Bryant wasn’t on the bench for the Knicks’ near-disaster Wednesday, in which they came back from a 14-point hole to defeat the decimated, league-worst Pistons, 94-85.
Bryant was seen on the bench during the game against the Timberwolves on Tuesday, but the Knicks had plane trouble on the trip to Detroit and didn’t land until 5 a.m. on Wednesday. Bryant was put in protocols Wednesday afternoon.
Bryant will be out at least six days under the NBA’s new protocols, unless he tests negative twice in a span of 24 hours. The Knicks’ revered assistant, who works with guards, is credited for keeping Kemba Walker from going off the rails during his nine-game banishment.
Bryant’s positive test means the Knicks aren’t quite done yet with their COVID run.
The Knicks have four players in protocols — with Julius Randle, on Thursday, joining Nerlens Noel, Jericho Sims and Wayne Selden.
On Friday, the Knicks will face a club missing its head coach because the Thunder’s Mark Daigneault is also in the COVID protocols. Mike Wilks is currently acting head coach. Former Knicks assistant Dave Bliss, who was acting head coach for the Thunder during the period Daigneault was away for the birth of his child, is also in health and safety protocols.
The Thunder have five players in protocols: Tre Mann, Darius Bazley, Josh Giddey, Jeremiah Robinson-Earl and Aleksej Pokusevski.
All told, the Knicks have had 10 COVID-19 positives for players.
After the Dec. 10 game at Toronto, Obi Toppin and RJ Barrett tested positive. In addition, MSG Network broadcasters, Walt Frazier and Rebecca Haarlow were put in COVID-19 protocols.
There will be no video tribute for Knicks point guard Kemba Walker when he returns to Oklahoma City.
Walker never played a game for the Thunder after being acquired in June from the Celtics. The rebuilding Thunder always had intentions of trading him but wound up buying him out. Walker visited Oklahoma City briefly for his physical and meeting staffers. Walker gave up $20 million of the $74 million he had left on the pact.