The sports world and really the world itself came to a screeching halt in March of 2020 as Covid-19 started to sweep through. This included the NCAA Tournament which never took place, the MLB season which was in spring training at the time everything got flipped upside down, and of course, the NBA season. Unfortunately for one man, Utah Jazz big Rudy Gobert, blame was generally thrown at one person — though, as we know now, the pandemic hitting all sports was inevitable.
Here's a look at how everything unraveled in the NBA surrounding Rudy Gobert's playful touch of the microphone and phones themselves, to his positive test and everything immediately after.
Rudy Gobert, NBA Shutdown Timeline
March 9 2020: Rudy Gobert has shootaround press conference and touches all audio equipment as a joke – Gobert tries showing fearlessness amidst the ongoing Covid-19 questions.
March 11: The NBA considers its options as more worry and doubt grows – Adam Silver and the rest of the NBA ponder moving games to cities with no outbreaks or postponing them and the season altogether.
March 11: San Francisco announces a ban of gatherings that exceed 1,000 people – The ban includes Golden State Warriors games.
March 11: Rudy Gobert is officially listed as questionable (illness) for the game that night – The illness is not known and comes two days after Gobert jokingly touched reporters microphones and phones on purpose
March 11: The NCAA announces March Madness will be played without fans – The move comes amid the coronavirus scare and all the unknowns surrounding it.
March 11: The NBA is considering all of its options including pushing the league calendar back – The NBA and NBAPA meet to discuss the next steps which could include no fans at games.
March 11: Oklahoma City vs. Utah Jazz game postponed – The game was quite literally seconds away from being tipped off
March 11: Rudy Gobert tests positive for Covid-19 – The announcement comes shortly after the Jazz' game against the Thunder was postponed at the last minute
March 11: After Rudy Gobert tests positive for Covid-19 the night of the Jazz – Thunder game, the NBA season is shut down – Gobert's positive test led to the NBA postponing the season for the time being.
March 11: NBA players react to the news of the postponed season – “2020 is being very bad year!! Stay safe folks.” – Luka Doncic.
March 11: The Jazz and the Thunder remain quarantined at the arena – After the postponement of the game and Gobert's positive test, both teams remain stuck in the arena in their respective locker rooms.
March 11: LeBron James reacts to postponed season – “Damn it's been a rough 3 months. God bless and stay safe.” – LeBron.
March 12: NBA league stoppage to be at least two weeks long – It's reported it will likely last longer than the first timeline given.
March 12: Donovan Mitchell tests positive for coronavirus – Mitchell is the only other person from the Jazz that was tested Wednesday to return a positive test.
March 12: U.S. Men's and Women's soccer teams cancel matches – The move comes as more and more leagues ponder what to do.
March 12: NHL suspends operations indefinitely – The NHL becomes the second major four sport to come to a stop.
March 12: The NCAA cancels March Madness – NCAA cancels, instead of postponing March Madness, putting an end to the season.
March 12: Rudy Gobert issues apology – “I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered.” – Gobert.
March 12: NBA updates coronavirus policies – Practices and workouts are no longer allowed, players must stay in market of team they play for.
March 12: Rudy Gobert won't be punished for his actions at press conference – Decision comes after Jazz players privately said Gobert acted recklessly in the locker room as well.
March 13: Sports executive thanks Rudy Gobert – “Honestly, Rudy Gobert saved America. He really did.”
March 13: Masters is postponed – The prestigious golf tournament is the latest to crumble.
March 13: LeBron James' message to fans after postponed season – “We miss you guys already.” – James.
March 14: Barack Obama shouts out players helping arena workers – “A shout out to Kevin, Giannis, Zion, Blake, Steph and all the players and owners.”
March 14: Rudy Gobert donates $500k to arena employees in OKC and Utah and for relief in France – “These donations are a small token that reflect my appreciation and support for all those impacted…”
March 15: NBA suspension could extend to two months – CDC recommendation says no gatherings of 50+ people for eight weeks.
March 15: NBA, NBAPA eliminate drug testing during coronavirus hiatus – Temporary stance considering the risk of coming in contact with someone who could have the virus.
March 17: Kevin Durant, 3 other Nets players test positive – They join a list that includes Gobert, Mitchell and Christian Wood.
March 18: Infectious disease experts recommend that 8 full teams be tested – Teams are those who have potential contract tracing with other teams that have had players test positive.
March 19: NBA shuts down all training facilities – Had been open for players to go and work out.
March 19: Three members of Sixers organization test positive – Positive cases throughout the league start to roll in.
March 19: Two Lakers players test positive – Adam Silver says it's far too early to know whether the league will resume in 2020.
March 19: Marcus Smart announces he has coronavirus – “I was tested 5 days ago and the results came back tonight, which were positive.”
March 19: Warriors not testing despite recent opponent positive test – “This situation is constantly evolving,” a team spokesman said. “But as of now, we’re not testing asymptomatic players.”
March 21: Adam Silver speaks out on ‘economic impact' of NBA's suspended season – “We’ve been analyzing multiple scenarios on a daily if not hourly basis and we’ll continue to review the financial implications.” – Silver
March 22: Jazz' Rudy Gobert gives startling coronavirus update – “…loss of smell and taste is definitely one of the symptoms.” – Gobert.
March 22: Canada decides not to send athletes to Tokyo Olympics – 2020 Summer Olympics slated for July 24 – August 9.
March 23: Australia not sending athletes to Tokyo Olympics – 2020 Summer Olympics remain on as scheduled.
March 25: NBA players flock to support Karl Anthony Towns' mom after coronavirus diagnosis – Towns' mom was put in a medically induced coma.
March 26: NBA reduces salaries for 100 top-earning executives – Adam Silver and deputy commissioner Mark Tatum included in salary reduction.
March 26: Stephen Curry hosts Q&A with Dr. Anthony Fauci – Informative Q&A held to inform people and update.
March 27: Rudy Gobert, Donovan Mitchell, rest of Jazz cleared of coronavirus – Cleared by the Utah Department of Health.
April 1: Kevin Durant, 3 Nets teammates, symptom free – Nets will remain isolated during social distancing period.
April 3: WNBA postpones start of regular season – Season was set to start on May 15.
April 4: Adam Silver speaks on sports leagues' role in restarting economy – Silver talks with President Donald Trump over the phone.
April 6: NBA considering rapid testing to resume season – NBA and NBAPA exhausting all avenues to try and return.
April 10: Teams hoping league will push NBA Draft back to August – Adam Silver has May 1st as a target date to decide on what to do with remainder of 2019-20 season.
April 12: Rudy Gobert addresses viral video of him touching reporters' mics – “I'm someone that jokes around all the time. People that really know me know my heart.” – Gobert.
April 13: Karl-Anthony Towns' mom passes away from Covid-19 – Towns' mother, Jacqueline, had been battling for weeks.
April 14: California governor says sports unlikely to return with fans for the summer – “The prospect of mass gatherings is [negligible] at best until we get to herd immunity and get to a vaccine.” – Governor Gavin Newsom
April 15: Dr. Anthony Fauci outlines plan for return to sports – “There is a way of doing it…nobody comes to the stadiums.” – Fauci.
April 17: NBA to withhold 25 percent of all player salaries – Will go into effect starting May 15.
April 19: Mark Cuban has message for President Trump about resuming NBA season – “Not to take a chance and get it all right,” Cuban said of his message to Trump. “I think what’s missing and what I’ll say to him the next time we convene…” – Cuban.
April 25: NBA will allow practice facilities to open in select cities – Facilities to open May 1st in cities that have eased stay-at-home orders.
April 27: Practice facility reopening date pushed back – May 8th now the earliest as initial announcement received tons of pushback.
April 30: NBA executives, agents, pushing for full cancellation of the season – Agents and executives said team owners are concerned with liability issues and don’t know whether or not to give up on the current season.
April 30: NBA could delay start of 2020-21 season – The 2019-20 season still hangs in the balance.
Follow Us
Subscribe