The National Basketball Association’s (NBA) two-time best defensive player of the year singlehandedly shut down the entire basketball league after he became the first player to test positive for the COVID-19 virus in the NBA.
It started out as a joke, with Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert touching other players, their belongings and every microphone after his press availability conference.
The repercussions were serious.
The French defensive specialist became “patient zero” in the NBA’s decision to shut down its season indefinitely.
In a social media post, Gobert publicly apologized to everyone saying he had gone through so many emotions including — and mostly — embarrassment and fear.
He also said he had no idea he was infected at the time he was making light of the NBA’s countermeasures.
Donovan Mitchell, the other Utah Jazz player to also test positive for the virus, was said to be “extremely frustrated” with him.
But the NBA said it will not penalize Gobert for his actions.