Jazz's Rudy Gobert Apologizes to Fans, Players After Coronavirus Diagnosis
March 12, 2020
Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert released a statement on Instagram after testing positive for the coronavirus.
Gobert thanked fans for their support and apologized for unknowingly spreading COVID-19 prior to being diagnosed:
"The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered. At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse. I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously. I will do whatever I can to support using my experience as way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus."
The Jazz were scheduled to play the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday. Moments before the tipoff, players from both teams were ushered back to their locker rooms, and the game was postponed.
Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium reported Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski then reported Jazz star Donovan Mitchell tested positive as well and that Gobert was receiving criticism from some of his teammates: "Jazz players are privately saying that Gobert showed a cavalier attitude toward the virus in the locker room, touching teammates and their belongings."
After the NBA issued guidelines forbidding reporters from entering locker rooms due to the coronavirus, Gobert appeared to make light of the situation by going out of his way to touch all of the microphones in front of him at an availability session Monday.
ESPN's Brian Windhorst reported that players from the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors had been told to self-quarantine after recently playing the Jazz.
The New Orleans Pelicans and Sacramento Kings also postponed their game Thursday night, with the Los Angeles Times' Arash Markazi noting referee Courtney Kirkland worked in the Jazz's 101-92 loss to the Raptors on Monday.
The NBA suspended the 2019-20 season indefinitely because of the ongoing pandemic.