No one would have faulted Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart if he kept his coronavirus (COVID-19) diagnosis away from the public eye. Instead, the 26-year-old defensive specialist boldly announced that he tested positive to raise public awareness about the highly-contagious respiratory illness.
Celtics head coach Brad Stevens commended Smart for his brave act on Friday, per Tim Bontemps of ESPN.
“I'm proud of how he kinda took the initiative to tell people that he had it and that he felt good and that he got online and just continued to ask people to practice social distancing and self-isolation right now. It's a really unique, unsettling time for everyone,” Stevens said.
The 43-year-old tactician also expressed his optimism for the condition of the Celtics' defensive ace, claiming he is asymptomatic and has been feeling well as of late. Stevens shared that he keeps in touch with Smart throughout his isolation.
“Obviously this thing spreads very quickly, and doesn't need as much contact as obviously you get when you're in the middle of a basketball game,” Stevens said. “I'm just happy that when he tested positive he continued to experience no symptoms and has felt great ever since.”
“We landed from Milwaukee 15 days ago now, and he's been feeling good. I've checked in with him as everybody else has, very regularly. I've seen him on conference calls a few times, and he seems to be doing really well.”
Given the sensitive nature of the disease, the Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, Denver Nuggets, and Philadelphia 76ers opted not to release the names of their players who were infected.
Apart from Smart, Brooklyn Nets superstar Kevin Durant also came forward to reveal that he tested positive. Meanwhile, Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, along with Detroit Pistons center Christian Wood, have reportedly fully recovered from COVID-19.
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