After reports of Rudy Gobert sitting out with an “illness,” it has been confirmed that he has contracted the rapidly spreading COVID-19 otherwise known as the Coronavirus. This comes just hours after the World Health Organization declared the virus a pandemic.
Breaking: Rudy Gobert has preliminarily tested positive for the coronavirus. pic.twitter.com/2hdH840qTd
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020
The 27-year-old, 7-foot-1 center was averaging 15.1 points a game, 1.5 assists, and two blocks. He is a defensive wizard and an easy fan favorite.
Prior to testing positive, Gobert jokingly touched all the microphones at his press conference in an apparent effort to poke fun at the NBA for their caution regarding the spread of the virus.
https://twitter.com/DanWeiner/status/1237909108071809030?s=20
The Jazz’s game versus the Thunder on Wednesday night was seconds from tip-off when the Thunder medical staff ran out and brought together the officials and coaches. After conferring with the league, the game was called off and the players were removed from the court. The game was abruptly cancelled and fans were told to leave the stadium. However, Jazz and Thunder players were placed in quarantine.
Players from the Utah #Jazz and Oklahoma City #Thunder have been placed in temporary quarantine inside their respective locker rooms.
— Prime Time Sports Talk (@TalkPrimeTime) March 12, 2020
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, Gobert is “feeling good, strong and stable” and was even “feeling strong enough to play tonight.” Obviously, with the virus being as delicate and contagious as it is, playing through it was not a possibility, nor was putting the rest of the athletes at risk.
Utah Jazz All-Star Rudy Gobert has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
Sources say Gobert is feeling good, strong and stable — and was feeling strong enough to play tonight.
