SALT LAKE CITY — A day after Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell released a video message through the NBA following his positive test for coronavirus, his teammate Rudy Gobert did the same on Sunday.
Gobert, who was the first professional athlete in the United States to test positive when the Jazz were in Oklahoma City last week — prompting the cancellation of just about every sporting event in the country — said in the 64-second video that “I wish I would’ve took this thing more seriously” amid reports that some of his teammates were frustrated in the days leading up to his diagnosis that he had not done so.
Like Mitchell, Gobert is in isolation, and said, “I’ve been feeling a little better every single day thanks to the healthcare people of Utah and Oklahoma City and all the great people around me.”
Gobert, who the Jazz announced on Saturday is donating $500,000 to Vivint Arena employees during the NBA’s hiatus and toward coronavirus relief efforts in Utah, Oklahoma City and his native France, reminded people to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, to try avoid touching your face, nose and eyes, and to avoid making unnecessary contact with other people.
“It’s all about protecting yourself and the people around you,” he said.
After adding he wished he would’ve taken this situation more seriously prior to his positive test, Gobert said, “I hope everyone else (is) gonna do so because we can do it together.”
He closed with an admonition to “Take care and stay safe.”
On Saturday, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Detroit Pistons big man Christian Wood had also tested positive for coronavirus, becoming the third known NBA player to test positive and the first outside of Gobert and Mitchell.
The NBA also posted a video on Twitter Sunday with a message from former Weber State guard and Portland Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard (also featuring his toddler son) encouraging people to take care of themselves as numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases increase.
“This is only a virus that we can beat together,” he said. “Hopefully we’ll be seeing you guys soon and back on the floor.”