The coronavirus has stopped the world. Everything is on hold right now, including the NBA, which suspended the season last week after Rudy Gobert tested positive for the infamous COVID-19.
Following that, we learned about new cases in the league, including other big names and several players and staff within a single organization. Right now there are 14 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the NBA, and seeing the way things are right now, that number is very likely to increase.
It all started with Gobert, as we stated before. Then, his Utah Jazz’s teammate Donovan Mitchell also tested positive for the virus.
Utah Jazz All-Star Rudy Gobert has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
Sources say Gobert is feeling good, strong and stable — and was feeling strong enough to play tonight.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has tested positive for the coronavirus, league sources tell ESPN. Jazz players privately say that Rudy Gobert had been careless in the locker room touching other players and their belongings. Now a Jazz teammate has tested positive.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
After that, the Detroit Pistons power forward/center Christian Wood added his name to this list. Wood was having a very good season with the Pistons, posting some of the best numbers of his career.
Detroit Pistons‘ Christian Wood has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Wood had 30 and 11 rebounds against Rudy Gobert on Saturday night before a career-high 32 on Wednesday.
Sources say Wood has shown no symptoms and is doing well.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 15, 2020
Furthermore, the Brooklyn Nets announced four of their players have tested positive for the COVID-19, with Kevin Durant revealing he was one of them. The other three players remain unrevealed.
Nets say four players have tested positive for covid-19.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 17, 2020
Kevin Durant tested positive for coronavirus, Durant tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Durant says he is feeling fine: "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this."
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 17, 2020
This set the alarms for the Los Angeles Lakers, who played their last game against the Nets before the suspension. The Purple and Gold took their entire roster to get the test on Wednesday and the results showed two undisclosed players tested positive for the illness.
Two Lakers players have tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. The team may test the remaining players who did not take tests Wednesday morning.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 19, 2020
The same day this was revealed, a member of the Denver Nuggets tested positive for the virus.
The Denver Nuggets say a member of organization has tested positive for the coronavirus.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 19, 2020
Following that, three members of the Philadelphia 76ers were also tested for the virus, and the result was positive.
Three members of the 76ers organization have received positive tests for coronavirus.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 19, 2020
Later on, the Celtics announced one of their players got infected with the virus and Marcus Smart himself confirmed he was the last addition to this list.
Celtics guard Marcus Smart announces he has tested positive for coronavirus.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 19, 2020
This is anything but an easy situation and every single player whose name went public has urged the fans to remain at home, listen to the authorities and wait for the best.
NBA Players/Staff who have tested positive for coronavirus:
🔘Rudy Gobert
🔘Donovan Mitchell
🔘Christian Wood
🔘Marcus Smart
🔘Kevin Durant and three other unnamed players on BKN
🔘One Member of the Nuggets
🔘Two players on the Lakers
🔘Three members of the Sixers organization
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 20, 2020
The NBA is on a break right now after Gobert became its ‘patient zero’. They are planning to return at some point in the summer, but all the conditions must be guaranteed for that to happen.
