The team dynamic inside the Utah Jazz locker room will certainly be tested, following center Rudy Gobert testing positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday.
ESPN sportscaster Scott Van Pelt and senior reporter Adrian Wojnarowski certainly think so, as they talked about the Jazz and the entire league's conundrum on Thursday.
Van Pelt noted that there seems to a discord between Gobert and the rest of his teammates, following his nonchalant approach to the virus before his diagnosis. Wojnarowski, who broke the story on Wednesday, echoed the same sentiment.
“That is an astute observation. The Jazz are fortunate that they don't have to get back together and start playing games again right now. There's a lot of work to do to repair relationships not just between Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, but others in the locker room. There's a lot of frustration with Gobert. He certainly was apologetic today. They got great leadership in Utah. In that locker room, it's going to be a test to get this team back on track,” Woj said.
Shortly after Gobert's diagnosis was confirmed, Jazz players revealed that the 7-foot-1 Frenchman has been careless in the locker room touching other players and their belongings. A clip of the StifleTower mockingly touching every mic in the media room days before his diagnosis also surfaced.
Jazz superstar Donovan Mitchell became the 2nd infected player in the team and likely got the virus from Gobert. The entire team was subjected to quarantine on Wednesday.
Gobert, meanwhile, has been a big factor in Utah's magnificent run in the Western Conference this season. However, his careless approach to the pandemic clearly shows a lack of maturity. Gobert has taken a lot of heat for his actions but the league announced he will not face any sanction or penalty.
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