On Friday, The Athletic reported there was a significant rift between center Rudy Gobert and Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell, calling the damage to their relationship "irreparable" after Gobert's carelessness in the locker room regarding COVID-19. But on Sunday, Gobert used Instagram to let fans know things between him and Mitchell are OK.
"It's true that we didn't speak for a while," Gobert said in an Instagram broadcast with Bleacher Report's Taylor Rooks. "But we spoke a couple days ago. We're ready to win a championship. … It's far from perfect, but at the end of the day we both want the same thing. We're grown men, and we're both going to do what it takes to win."
Snippet from the conversation with Rudy Gobert addressing media speculation about his relationship with Donovan Mitchell: pic.twitter.com/jQ8KaPEnZs
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) April 12, 2020
Gobert, of course, was the first NBA player to test positive for the coronavirus, ultimately leading to the suspension of the NBA season. Mitchell tested positive soon after Gobert's diagnosis, though there's no way to know which direction the virus spread.
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Mitchell said in an interview with Good Morning America that he didn't appreciate the attitude Gobert had shown around teammates regarding COVID-19. Just a couple nights before he tested positive, Gobert made a scene by dramatically touching all of the microphones after a press conference, and he reportedly acted similarly behind closed doors.
"To be honest with you, it took a while for me to kind of cool off," Mitchell said when asked if he had spoken with Gobert since being diagnosed. "I read what he said and heard what he said. I'm glad he's doing okay, I'm glad I'm doing well."
Later Sunday evening, Yahoo's Chris Haynes reported that the conversation between Gobert and Mitchell occurred Saturday night (after the GMA appearance) and marked a positive step toward mending their relationship.