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The announcement of Rudy Gobert testing positive for COVID-19 not only led to the NBA suspending the regular season, but also internal strife in the Utah Jazz locker room.
Just days before, Gobert mocked the league's media distancing protocols by breathing and touching microphones at the podium during his media session, and he had reportedly been rather cavalier in his interactions with teammates.
The morning after Gobert's positive test was revealed, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell also tested positive. Subsequent reports would indicate a purported rift between the two stars.
But things appear to be simmering down. Mitchell revealed during his media session Thursday he and Gobert have moved forward, and are turning their focus to the resumption of play in Orlando later this month.
Mitchell said he and Gobert are “good,” adding he lamented the fact the reported tension took the focus away from the team.
Donovan Mitchell on his relationship with Rudy Gobert: "Right now, we’re good. We’re going out there ready to hoop. I think the biggest thing that kind of sucked was that it took away from the guys on the team, took away from what the guys on the team were trying to do."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 2, 2020
Mitchell continued: "I really wish that, going forward, I think that will be the primary focus, us jelling as a team. Obviously, Rudy and I had COVID and whatever happened, happened. But now we’re ready to hoop and focus on the team as a whole."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 2, 2020
Jazz fans will undoubtedly feel a sense of relief hearing their star players are on the same page. Mitchell and Gobert are essential to the team's chances of making a playoff run in Orlando, and all 22 teams' chemistry will be tested after such a long hiatus.
Mitchell was Utah's leading scorer and primary offensive playmaker prior to the suspension of play, averaging 24.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists. Meanwhile, Gobert continued to establish himself as a dominant defender and deterrent at the rim.
The Jazz head to Orlando as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. They are just 1.5 games back of the Denver Nuggets for the No. 3 seed and three games back of the Los Angeles Clippers for the No. 2 seed, but also just one game up on the Houston Rockets and Oklahoma City Thunder.
