The first two players in the NBA who were infected with the COVID-19 virus recovered from the disease per source. Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell are cleared off the illness, according to NBA insider Shams Charania .
“Jazz All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have been cleared from coronavirus, source tells,” Charnia wrote on his Twitter account.
This is a huge relief for all the basketball fans around the world and especially for all those who like Utah Jazz. After all the tests, the medical staff stated that both Mitchell and Gobert are healthy and that there is no trace of the virus in their bodies.
The entire confusion in the best basketball league began after news broke out that Gobert tested positive on the virus. That happened on March 11, shortly before the contest against the Oklahoma City Thunder. It was the key reason which forced the NBA Commissioner Adam Silver to put the entire season on hold and to suspend all the activities until further.
Two days after Gobert’s infection, Donovan Mitchell’s test was also found positive, and another Jazzers’ All-Star had to go into quarantine. During their stay in isolation, both players were ofter informing the public about their health, saying that they feel well and that there are no problems whatsoever with their overall condition.
Gobert was targeted by the public for behaving irresponsibly and for being negligent, which eventually cost the French pretty much. Just two days before the Jazz center found out about his infection, he was careless at the press conference, saying that there should be no worries about the coronavirus, and was joking about the entire situation.
Gobert would even touch all the microphones on the table in front of him, trying to prove that there is no danger of catching the virus. In the end, he made a massive mistake.
It would turn out later that he behaved carelessly in the locker room as well, and that he probably infected Mitchell, endangering all other teammates. The French international issued a public apology in which he regretted his actions saying that he hopes others might learn on his mistakes.
“I was careless and make no excuse,” Gobert said. “I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously. I will do whatever I can to support using my experience as a way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus.”
Fortunately, all this is behind Utah’s leading duo. Yet, there is a long way ahead of the NBA and the entire community in battling this vicious virus. The infection is spreading out faster and faster, and so far, there are no official and reliable predictions that could tell us more about the potential of the COVID-19 pandemic.
As for the continuing of the NBA season, we heard several motions in the last few days about the future format. Among them is the tournament in Las Vegas, which could be played like NCAA tournaments, meaning one-game eliminations. The league is trying to save not only the season but to reduce the losses, which might be greater than $1 billion. Silver and his team are still trying to find the best solution, and are exploring all the possibilities.
