ESPN News Services
Utah Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has tested positive for the coronavirus, league sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
Mitchell becomes the second Jazz player to test positive for contracting the virus, along with Rudy Gobert, sources told Wojnarowski. Gobert’s diagnosis led to the postponement of Wednesday’s game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
The Jazz announced Thursday that a second player has tested positive but did not identify Mitchell.
“We are working closely with the CDC, Oklahoma and Utah state officials, and the NBA to monitor their health and determine the best path moving forward,” the Jazz said in a statement.
Jazz players are privately saying that Gobert showed a cavalier attitude toward the virus in the locker room, touching teammates and their belongings.
At Monday’s media availability, Gobert was seen touching all the microphones and tape recorders at the end of his session with reporters.
Players the Jazz have faced within the past 10 days are being told to self-quarantine, a source told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. In those 10 days, Utah has played the Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons and Toronto Raptors.
The Raptors announced Thursday that members of the team’s traveling party have been tested for the coronavirus and that they are awaiting the results.
The NBA announced Wednesday night that it was suspending the season following the Jazz’s announcement of a positive coronavirus test.
“The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic,” the league said in a statement.
For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover from the virus. According to the World Health Organization, which labeled the coronavirus a pandemic on Wednesday, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover.
The NBA is expected to address next steps with teams when it conducts a call with the board of governors at 12:30 p.m. ET Thursday, sources told ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne.
There are 259 games, roughly 21% of the schedule, left to play this season.
Information from ESPN’s Royce Young and The Associated Press was used in this report.
