Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tests positive for coronavirus as NBA suspends season
Utah Jazz forward Rudy Gobert has tested positive for the coronavirus, a person familiar with the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the situation.
The NBA did not mention Gobert by name, but the league did confirm in a statement that "a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminary tested positive for COVID-19." The NBA added that "the test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of tonight’s game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena."
The league reported that "the affected player was not in the arena," although the game was ultimately postponed.
The league suspended the season indefinitely.
About 50 minutes after the postponement, the Jazz released a statement that did not name Gobert but said the player tested negative for influenza, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection on Wednesday morning.
Though the Jazz said the "individual’s symptoms diminished over the course of today," the organization tested Gobert for COVID-19 as a "precautionary measure" after consulting with the NBA league office, its medical staff and Oklahoma health officials. The Jazz reported "a preliminary positive result came back right before tip-off."
Because of that development, the NBA also canceled a game between the Sacramento Kings and New Orleans Pelicans. In a statement, the league said the cancellation stemmed "out of an abundance of caution because one of the referees assigned to work in the game also worked a Utah Jazz game earlier this week."
Players on teams the Jazz have played in past 10 days have been asked to self-quarantine.
"We are working closely with the CDC, Oklahoma and Utah state officials and the NBA to determine how to best move forward as we gather more information,'" the Jazz said in the statement. "The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City. In coordination with the NBA and state officials, we will provide updates at the appropriate time."
About 30 minutes after the game was scheduled to begin, the Thunder public address announcer said "due to unforeseen circumstances the game has been postponed" before asking fans to leave Chesapeake Bay Arena. The Thunder broadcast team said on the air that officials delayed the game because of an illness to Gobert, but it was not immediately known what the illness was. He was listed as questionable before the game. The Jazz also listed Emmanuel Mudiay as out because of an illness, though he is not believed to have tested positive for the coronavirus.
On Monday, Gobert poked fun at the NBA's new media policies that required reporters and cameramen to stay between six to eight feet away from coaches and players in sectioned-off areas. Following his morning shootaround availability, Gobert touched all the microphones and recorders on the interview table.
The NBA had sent out various advisories to teams stressing the needs to keep hands clean, avoiding handshakes and not rubbing hands on one's face.
Both teams and their locker room were quarantined after the game, according to various reports.
The NBA had considered hosting games behind closed doors following a conference call on Wednesday afternoon with the league's 30 owners. They planned to make a formal decision on Thursday. That thought process changed after the Thunder-Jazz game was called off after Gobert's positive test for the coronavirus
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