Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert set the sports world alight when he tested positive for the coronavirus on Wednesday evening in Oklahoma City.
On Monday, Gobert had “jokingly” touched all of the Jazz reporter's microphones and recorders as a sort of mockery of precautions taken by the NBA, which mandated all reporters maintain 6-to-8 feet from players and coaches. Just two days later, Gobert tested positive.
Here’s Rudy Gobert touching a bunch of reporters’ audio equipment 2 days ago. Today, he tested positive for coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/Z3Lw1yfCfW
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 12, 2020
Gobert took to Instagram to express his feelings while also noting how embarrassed he was at his handling of the situation. The Frenchman apologized to “the people that I have endangered.”
While Gobert stated he did not know he was infected at the time, he acknowledged how reckless his actions were, making no excuses for what occurred:
https://www.instagram.com/p/B9pXSG8l_J6/
Gobert's positive test set of a chain reaction of events that would eventually lead to the NBA deciding to suspend the season immediately.
The Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder were about to tip off on Thursday evening when an OKC trainer sprinted from the locker room to halt the proceedings. Eventually, news spread that Gobert had tested positive.
While some teams (like the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets) were already in the midst of their contest, others (such as the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans) cancelled proceedings.
Gobert's Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell has since tested positive for coronavirus, though multiple Jazz beat reporters said they tested negative.
The NBA has yet to determine the fate of the 2019-20 season. On Wednesday afternoon, the Board of Governors came to a conclusion the remainder of the year would be played behind closed doors. But Gobert's positive test has thrown things for a loop.
In any case, Gobert seems to have even more reflecting to do in the near future.
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