FNQ big man cleared for NBA return

Mareeba big man Aron Baynes has recovered from coronavirus and is getting ready for an NBA return.

BEIJING, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 13: Aron Baynes with Patty Mills of Australia reacts after lose the game against Spain during the semi-finals of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Spain and Australia at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 13, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

• Connections excited about Cairns gelding’s debut
• Sharks flyer stars in her rugby debut
• How Cairns AFL coup can become FNQ’s long term gain
• Edge Hill United routs Innisfail to lead Premier League

Mareeba big man Aron Baynes has recovered from coronavirus and is getting ready for an NBA return.

The 33-year old Phoenix centre missed the opening few weeks of the NBA’s return to play training camp and his club’s first couple of ­scrimmage games.

The FNQ product had to return two negative tests before he could join his team.

American news outlet, The Athletic, citing sources, reported Baynes will fly to Orlando, Florida today and enter the NBA’s “bubble” in Walt ­Disney World.

PHOENIX, ARIZONA – NOVEMBER 04: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers puts up a shot over Aron Baynes #46 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on November 04, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona.

On Instagram, Baynes confirmed he was about to return to his teammates and restart the NBA campaign.

“Time to trade these bubbles for another, going to miss my partners in crime,” Baynes put on Instagram with a video of his two children.

The Suns are next set to play tomorrow, against the defending champion Toronto Raptors, which the Queensland junior is unlikely to be ready for.

The Suns play their first regular season game of the NBA restart in the Walt Disney World bubble against the Washington Wizards on Friday.

Baynes’ club are a slim chance of forcing their way into the play-offs.

BEIJING, CHINA – SEPTEMBER 13: Aron Baynes with Patty Mills of Australia reacts after lose the game against Spain during the semi-finals of 2019 FIBA World Cup match between Spain and Australia at Beijing Wukesong Sport Arena on September 13, 2019 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)

Last week, Baynes told The Athletic his ordeal was scary because he was worried about spreading it to his family, so he put himself into self-isolation.

“My family is testing negative, but I’m still not. I have antibodies, so I’m not contagious — but I need those negative tests because that’s the criteria the NBA set up,” Baynes said. “I really didn’t want to get my family sick.

“The lack of being able to get out of bed and stay awake — that hit me pretty hard.

“It actually put me on my butt for a full week. I slept for four days straight. There was one point where I didn’t see back-to-back hours until four days of being in bed asleep.”

Originally published as FNQ big man cleared for NBA return