Jazz's Rudy Gobert apologizes for 'careless' behavior after positive coronavirus test

Jordan Greer

•
Jazz's Rudy Gobert apologizes for 'careless' behavior after positive coronavirus test image

Jazz center Rudy Gobert publicly addressed his positive coronavirus (COVID-19) test in an Instagram post on Thursday, saying he has felt "fear, anxiety and embarrassment" since learning his diagnosis.

The NBA announced Wednesday it is suspending the season indefinitely after Gobert's coronavirus test came back positive. Those test results forced the NBA to postpone the Jazz-Thunder game scheduled for Wednesday night and kept Utah and Oklahoma City players quarantined in their locker rooms at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was the only other Utah player or personnel member to test positive for the virus, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania, but Gobert faced plenty of criticism for his flippant attitude toward the pandemic. Gobert jokingly touched the recorders and microphones of reporters days earlier, and he had reportedly been "careless in the locker room" about touching the belongings of other players, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. 

MORE: What may come next for NBA after Rudy Gobert's positive test

"I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of concern and support over the last 24 hours," Gobert wrote. "I have gone through so many emotions since learning of my diagnosis … mostly fear, anxiety, and embarrassment. The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered. At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse.

"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 way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus. I am under great care and will fully recover. Thank you again for all your support. I encourage everyone to take all of the steps to stay safe and healthy. Love."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of concern and support over the last 24 hours. I have gone through so many emotions since learning of my diagnosis…mostly fear, anxiety, and embarrassment. The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered. At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse. 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 way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus . I am under great care and will fully recover. Thank you again for all your support. I encourage everyone to take all of the steps to stay safe and healthy. Love.

A post shared by Rudy Gobert (@rudygobert27) on

The NBA will not fine or suspend Gobert for his actions leading up to testing positive, sources told Yahoo! Sports' Chris B. Haynes on Thursday night.

The Jazz said in a team statement Wednesday that a player (they didn't identify the player as Gobert) had "tested negative for influenza, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection" and a test for COVID-19 came back positive "right before tipoff" of the Jazz-Thunder game.

"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 statement read. "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."

Gobert should be able to recover without any long-term issues, but the main concern is obviously how the virus could spread considering 34 different players have shared the floor with Gobert since Friday.

Jordan Greer

Jordan Greer Photo

Jordan Greer has been with The Sporting News since 2015. He previously worked for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. He is a graduate of Westminster College and Syracuse University.