LeBron James will return to the court after clearing NBA's COVID-19 protocols

LeBron James will make his return to the hardwood after clearing the NBA's health and safety protocols, the league announced Thursday. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar was sidelined over conflicting COVID-19 test results earlier this week. 

James, 36, was forced to miss Tuesday night's game against the Sacramento Kings after James returned a positive test result. The league said the sample was "re-run twice," returning one negative and one positive result on two separate PCR instruments. 

However, James was cleared to play after two PCR tests, which he took more than 24 hours apart, per league rules, came back negative. A second test was "clinically inconclusive."