New York Post, Friday, March 13, 2020
nypost.com
Jazz center Gobert sorry for being ‘careless’
By Greg JoyceRudy Gobert is the public
face of coronavirus in
sports.
He’s hoping fans can learn
from him regarding what
not to do.
The Jazz center became
the first pro athlete in
America to test positive for
coronavirus Wednesdaynight, leading to the NBA’s
decision to suspend its sea-
son. Gobert had been “care-
less” in the locker room
touching other players and
their belongings, according
to ESPN, and his teammate
Donovan Mitchell tested
positive Thursday morning,
which Gobert seemed to ad-
dress in his first public
words since the diagnosis.“I want to thank everyone
for the outpouring of con-
cern and support over the
last 24 hours,” Gobert wrote
in an Instagram post Thurs-
day afternoon. “I have gone
through so many emotions
since learning of my diag-
nosis...mostly fear, anxiety,
and embarrassment.
“The first and most im-
portant thing is I would liketo publicly apologize to the
people that I may have en-
dangered. 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 [a] way to ed-
ucate others and preventthe spread of this virus.
“I am under great care
and will fully recover.
Thank you again for all your
support. I encourage every-
one to take all of the steps to
stay safe and healthy. Love.”
Gobert had been sick and
tested positive just before
the Jazz were set to tip off
against the Thunder on
Wednesday night in Okla-homa City. It led to the
game being called off and
shortly after, the NBA an-
nounced the suspended
season.
A video of Gobert also
went viral Wednesday night
of him wiping his hands on
microphones and reporters’
recorders after speaking to
the media on Monday.
[email protected]IS THIS IT? Julius Randle
scores two of his 33 points
on Wednesday against the
Hawks in what may have
been the Knicks’ final game
of the season. Getty ImagesBy Marc BermanATLANTA — The Knicks filed
out of their hotel at 2:45 p.m.
Thursday to board a bus to the air-
port with signals all their players
and staff are doing OK. For now.
With the NBA season sus-
pended at least four weeks, the
Knicks did not take their sched-
uled flight to Miami late Wednes-
day after their overtime victory
over the Hawks.
Indications were the players had
not yet been tested for coronavi-
rus because they are asympto-
matic. The Knicks played the Jazz
last week and Utah has two in-
fected players, stars Rudy Gobert
and Donovan Mitchell.
According to the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
website and the New York De-
partment of Health, testing for
coronavirus
should occur
only if there
are symptoms.
However, teams that have played
the Jazz in the past 10 days are to
be self-quarantined for about two
weeks.
The Knicks have yet to com-
ment or release a statement about
whether they will self-quarantine,
but teams such as the Raptors,
Celtics, Cavaliers and Pistons
have confirmed they are going
into “self-isolation” for two weeks.
All those teams faced the Jazz in
the past 10 days.
Against the Knicks on March 4,
Gobert and Mitchell each played
34 minutes.
Late Wednesday, Knicks veteran
Wayne Ellington said at Atlanta’s
State Farm Arena that the team’s
medical director, Dr. Lisa Calla-
han, had given them encouraging
words.
“You think about it, but at the
same time, Dr. Callahan notifiedus as long as you’re not feeling
symptoms, what comes with it,
you’re fine,” Ellington said. “Oth-
erwise, we’ll take the necessary
orders. Everybody is OK.”
Indications were the players and
coaches were feeling no symp-
toms Thursday, either. However,
it’s all fluid as an incubation pe-
riod exists.
It is believed the reason the
Knicks didn’t leave until midafter-
noon Thursday was due to travel
issues with the NBA charter
flights, as many had been redi-
rected.
Team president Leon Rose and
general manager Scott Perry in-
formed the
players of the
the NBA’s deci-
sion to place
the season on hold late Wednes-
day, though most players already
knew during the game’s second
half.
The Knicks’ 136-131 overtime
victory potentially left their final
record at 21-45.
“It’s unfortunate obviously for
our fans, and us,” Ellington said.
“The main thing is our safety. Our
safety is first for us, staff and fans.”
Madison Square Garden re-
leased a statement after Gov. An-
drew Cuomo announced a state-
wide ban on gatherings of more
than 500 people, shutting down
the Garden indefinitely.
Commissioner Adam Silver said
on TNT that the league will be on
hold for at least a month and
didn’t rule out picking it up in six
weeks, forcing the NBA Finals
possibly into late July. The pros-
pect of the Knicks having to playtheir final seven home games
without fans seems plausible.
“We support Governor Cuomo’s
decision and starting [Friday]
night, our New York venues will
only host events that adhere to the
Governor’s very clear parame-
ters,” the MSG statement said.
“This is a fluid situation and we
will be back with further details
when available.”
Rose’s presidential tenure that
began on March 2 has been filled
with only tumult. On his first day,
a Knicks’ victory over Houston
was overshadowed by the national
furor over James Dolan’s feud
with superfan Spike Lee.
Rose did not hold an introduc-
tory press conference. Instead, in
a letter to fans, he said it was im-
portant to travel to every game to
evaluate staff and players.
Now Rose may not get that
chance if the NBA cancels the rest
of the regular season and resumes
in mid-April with the play-
offs.
Rose is also unable to live
scout any more college
games with the cancellation
of the conference and NCAA
tournaments.
As the Knicks boarded the bus
outside the hotel, Rose wandered
around the street on his cell phone,
looking like a man under duress.
Interim coach Mike Miller, who
has acted as the most guarded
Knicks coach in interviews in re-
cent memory, was asked to sum up
the wild season.
“Every season is different,’’ said
Miller, who may finish up his in-
terim term at 17-27.
[email protected]Where they’re at
The current
NBA standingsEASTERN
CONFERENCE
TEAMW/L- Bucks 53-12
- Raptors 46-18
- Celtics 43-21
- Heat 41-24
- Pacers 39-26
- 76ers 39-26
- Nets 30-34
- Magic 30-35
FIRST-ROUND
MATCHUPS
(As of this point)
Bucksvs. Magic
Raptorsvs. Nets
Celticsvs. 76ers
Heatvs. PacersWESTERN
CONFERENCE- Lakers 49-14
- Clippers 44-20
- Nuggets 43-22
- Jazz 41-23
- Thunder 40-24
- Rockets 40-24
- Mavericks 40-27
- Grizzlies 32-33
FIRST-ROUND
MATCHUPS
(As of this point)
Lakersvs. Grizzlies
Clippersvs. Ma vericks
Nuggetsvs. Rockets
Jazzvs. ThunderCORONAVIRUS
IN BASKETBALL
Silence from Knicks on
possible self-quarantine