Adam Silver, the current commissioner of the National Basketball Association (NBA), will miss Game 6 of the NBA Finals between the Boston Celtics and the Golden State Warriors, a game that could likely end with the Warriors clinching their fourth title in eight years.

“Commissioner Adam Silver will not attend Game 6 of the Finals tonight due to the NBA’s Health & Safety Protocols,” NBA announced on Thursday.

Also read | NBA Finals: 3 things to watch out for in Game 6

Incidentally, the 60-year-old Silver had missed Monday’s Game 5 for the same reason, although the NBA has not revealed whether Silver himself has tested positive for COVID-19 or has come in contact with someone who has.

Notably, if the Warriors clinch their seventh NBA title on Thursday, Silver’s absence from proceedings could throw a wrench into things as it has been a long-standing custom for the NBA Commissioner to present the winning team with the Larry O’Brien trophy. If this indeed turns out to be the case, it will mark the Silver’s first absence from a championship presentation since being appointed Commissioner.

Also read | NBA Finals: Will Boston Celtics live to fight another day?

At the time of writing this, it was unclear whether someone else had been appointed to fill in for Silver, and reports suggest that NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum could be asked to fill in for the absent Commissioner.

A lawyer and sports executive, Silver was the NBA’s Deputy Commissioner and Chief Operating Officer for eight years prior to being appointed Commissioner in 2014. The 60-year-old succeeded former NBA Commissioner David Stern, who personally nominated Silver for the post.

Also read | NBA Finals: The Stephen Curry recipe for Game 6

Silver joined the NBA in 1992, and since then, has held several other high profile posts, including the positions of senior Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer, NBA Entertainment, NBA chief of staff, and special assistant to the NBA Commissioner.