On March 11, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert became the first player in the NBA to test positive for the coronavirus.
Confusion was running rampant throughout Chesapeake Energy Arena as the Thunder medical staff ran out to inform the officials just prior to the 7 p.m. tip-off between Oklahoma City and the Jazz.
ESPN reporter Royce Young was courtside that night, having done pregame hits about the big Western Conference matchup between Utah and OKC, and the potential for the NBA to continue the rest of the regular season without fans.
However, that all changed when Thunder head doctor, Donnie Strack, ran onto the floor.
Young spoke to Awful Announcing about what it was like to be at Chesapeake Energy Arena when Gobert’s test results became known.
“You’re sitting there and realizing this is not just a moment in NBA history, but history period,” Young said. “And realizing we’re gonna be here all night.”
Young immediately became the person on the ground at the epicenter of how the coronavirus was directly impacting the NBA, breaking into ESPN’s live broadcast of the Denver Nuggets vs. the Dallas Mavericks.
He told Awful Announcing that he was trying to gather as much information as possible while also ensuring that the information he was giving out during his hits for Sports Center was 100% accurate.
“Our news desk was so gracious and patient with me that night,” he said. “I know they were probably champing to ‘give us your story, give us your info.’ But the problem was so much was evolving throughout the night. So if I had sent in a story immediately, or very quickly, we would’ve missed out on a lot of details. They understood that really well.”
Young said that he spent time over the next few days reflecting on what had happened and his role in a historical moment, and recognizes that “people are probably going to remember that I was there. And I hope I met the moment.”