Both Russell Westbrook and James Harden were conspicuously absent when their Houston Rockets teammates landed at Disney World last week, and head coach Mike D’Antoni was particularly mum as to the reason for the absence of his superstars.
Kawhi Leonard and other players didn’t show up with their teams, either, though, so it wasn’t exactly precedent-setting for a player or two to be absent.
However, on Monday, Russell Westbrook took to his social media channels to reveal that he — one of the greatest players in Thunder franchise history — has tested positive for COVID-19.
According to the former MVP, he tested positive prior to the Rockets’ departure to Orlando, which obviously explains why he wasn’t with the team.
Per guidance from local and federal health officials, Westbrook will now enter a mandatory quarantine. He will likely be in quarantine for two weeks until such time a time that he is able to register successive negative tests.
He is the latest among a growing group of NBA players to test positive for the disease.
“I tested positive for covid-19 prior to my teams departure to Orlando. I’m currently feeling well, quarantined, and looking forward to rejoining my teammates when I am cleared. Thank you all for the well wishes and continued support. Please take this virus seriously. Be safe. Mask up! #whynot,” he wrote.
— Russell Westbrook (@russwest44) July 13, 2020
It is not known when Westbrook will arrive in Orlando or if his positive test will have any impact on James Harden.
The Thunder will enter play on July 30 with the same 40-24 record as the Rockets. The two teams — which are linked together through the trade that saw Chris Paul and Westbrook swap jerseys —have enjoyed a bit of a rivalry that will see them jockeying for playoff seeding before the postseason begins next month.
Hopefully, Westbrook will be fully healthy by then.