It seems like forever ago, but the shutdown of U.S. professional sports goes back to Utah Jazz big man Rudy Gobert testing positive for the coronavirus on March 11.
The positive test came just a few days after Gobert mockingly touched the recorders of Jazz media at the end of a press conference. And shortly after Gobert’s positive test, it was learned that teammate Donovan Mitchell also tested positive for the coronavirus.
In the months since their battles with COVID-19, there had been reports about an irreparably damaged relationship between the two teammates. But on Thursday, Donovan told ESPN’s Tim MacMahon that their relationship is good … “right now.”
Mitchell continued: "I really wish that, going forward, I think that will be the primary focus, us jelling as a team. Obviously, Rudy and I had COVID and whatever happened, happened. But now we’re ready to hoop and focus on the team as a whole."
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 2, 2020
Though Mitchell admitted back in March that he was extremely upset with Gobert, it’s still unclear who infected whom. The Jazz had even tried to remind Mitchell of that when the rift was particularly evident.
While Mitchell has made a full recovery, Gobert still hasn’t fully regained his sense of smell. It hasn’t been easy for Gobert who apologized for not taking the pandemic seriously early on.
But for now, it sounds like the two players are willing to focus on basketball as teammates before heading to Orlando.
[jwplayer UbYvRska-q2aasYxh]