As everyone in the entire NBA universe knows, the collapse of the 2020 NBA season began with Rudy Gobert testing positive for COVID-19. However, internal strife within the Utah Jazz roster was probably the biggest symptom of the big man’s diagnosis.
Before his positive test, Gobert was caught on camera mocking the league’s social distancing rules by touching the microphones during media availability. Days after this incident, Gobert became the first known player in the NBA to test positive for COVID-19.
Rudy Gobert thought it was funny to touch every single mic and recorder in the media room.
Now, he has Coronavirus and the entire NBA season is suspendedpic.twitter.com/A22U5AgmBi
— Sports ReUp (@SportsReUp) March 12, 2020
His immaturity did not stop there, however. It was later reported that he was touching other teammates playfully in the locker room, including Donovan Mitchell, who was eventually diagnosed with the Coronavirus.
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has tested positive for the coronavirus, league sources tell ESPN. Jazz players privately say that Rudy Gobert had been careless in the locker room touching other players and their belongings. Now a Jazz teammate has tested positive.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
Consequently, reports began to leak out regarding Mitchell’s fractured and “unsalvageable” relationship with Gobert. It was completely plausible that Gobert could have given Mitchell the coronavirus, so the star guard was pissed at the big guy, and justifiably so. But it appears now that things between them have softened considerably, as both have been cleared of the coronavirus, and the NBA is set to restart later this month.
Donovan Mitchell on his relationship with Rudy Gobert: “Right now, we’re good. We’re going out there ready to hoop. I think the biggest thing that kind of sucked was that it took away from the guys on the team, took away from what the guys on the team were trying to do.”
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) July 2, 2020
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
For now, it seems that Mitchell and Gobert have put the past behind them, and are looking forward to battle in the NBA playoffs next month.
Prior to the league suspension of play, Mitchell was the Jazz leading scorer, averaging 24.3 points per game, while Gobert led the team in rebounds and blocks at a clip of 13.7 and 2.0 respectively.
