The coronavirus, or COVID-19, is running through the black entertainment world, with the NBA getting hit the hardest. If the many cases of celebrities with the easily transmitted coronavirus proves anything, it’s that we’re all human.
Kevin Durant
Four players on the Brooklyn Nets basketball team were confirmed to have the coronavirus after test results came in on Tuesday, March 17. Among them was star Small Forward, Kevin Durant.
Durant told The Atlantic he felt fine, and advised others to take precautions to limit the spread of the virus, “Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We’re going to get through this.”
We wish them a speedy recovery. But, with all due respect, an entire NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically ill patients waiting to be tested.
Tests should not be for the wealthy, but for the sick. https://t.co/7uQlL3zc7Z
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 17, 2020
Idris Elba, Sabrina Dhowre
Idris Elba reviled he tested positive for the coronavirus on March 16. A few days later his wife, Sabrina Dhowre, confirmed she was positive as well.
This morning I tested positive for Covid 19. I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus. Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing 👊🏾👊🏾 No panic. pic.twitter.com/Lg7HVMZglZ
— Idris Elba (@idriselba) March 16, 2020
Rudy Gobert
Rudy Gobert kicked off the pandemic from within the NBA. At the start of the month, the Jazz center mocked the infectious nature of the coronavirus during a press conference by intentionally touch all the microphones at the presser. The tested positive days later.
So…here is Rudy touching all the mics following Mondays shoot around that has some people concerned… #TakeNote #utahjazz #CoronaVirus pic.twitter.com/dr4auECTr4
— Dave Fox (@Davefox2) March 12, 2020
Donovan Mitchell
Rudy Gobert’s Utah Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell, also tested positive for coronavirus. Mitchell told Good Morning America he was feeling weel and was asymptomatic, “I don’t have any symptoms. I could walk down the street [and] if it wasn’t public knowledge that I was sick, you wouldn’t know it. I think that’s the scariest part about this virus.”
#donovanmitchell talks about contracting the #coronavirus from his teammate #rudygobert on #goodmorningamerica
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•#nba #utahjazz #explore #explorepage #theculturereport pic.twitter.com/sCWA1mVFUd— The_CultureReport (@_culturereport) March 16, 2020
Christian Wood
On March 14 Detroit Pistons’ Christian Wood became the 3rd NBA player with a confirmed case of CODIV-19, shortly after Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell both tested positive for the virus.
The Pistons played against the Jazz days before Wood’s diagnosis, where he was in close contact with Gobert.
Detroit Pistons‘ Christian Wood has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Wood had 30 and 11 rebounds against Rudy Gobert on Saturday night before a career-high 32 on Wednesday.
Sources say Wood has shown no symptoms and is doing well.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 15, 2020
Marcus Smart
Marcus Smart, Point Guard for the Boston Celtics, added to the growing number of NBA player who are confirmed as having the coronavirus.
In a video posted to Twitter, Smart said he feels “fine” and urged others to take steps to keep themselves safe, “I’m OK, I feel fine. I don’t feel any of the symptoms,” Smart said in the video accompanying his tweet. “But I can’t stress enough practicing social distancing, and really keep yourself away from a large group of people — just really washing your hands and help protect yourself, and help protect others by protecting yourself.”
I was tested 5 days ago and the results came back tonight, which were positive. Ive been self quarantined since the test, thank goodness. COVID-19 must be taken w the highest of seriousness. I know it’s a #1 priority for our nations health experts, & we must get more testing ASAP pic.twitter.com/xkijb9wlKV
— marcus smart (@smart_MS3) March 19, 2020
TMZ asked St. Louis hip hip legend Nelly his thoughts on the Durant diagnosis and the spread of coronavirus. ”Our thoughts and our strengths are with [Kevin Durant], you know what I’m sayin’ and…speedy recovery. We’re all the same right now. Nobody’s bigger than the other right now. I think we all are one at the same time right now. It’s affecting the world, man, not just the music industry. And, anybody who feels like this is personal, basically got they head in the sand.”
Written by Tiffany Simmons and Tasha Jacobs
