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Four players on the Brooklyn Nets tested positive for COVID-19, or the coronavirus, according to the team. The Nets say that three of the players are not yet showing any symptoms, while the fourth player is symptomatic.
The Nets did not name the players, who they say are all being isolated and cared for by team physicians. They are also asking everyone in the team’s travel party to self-quarantine and monitor their health.
Sources: Brooklyn tested the team upon returning from San Francisco and results came back today. Nets paid out of pocket to a private company to conduct tests. One player awoke with some aches today; rest have experienced no symptoms.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 17, 2020
Nets forward Kevin Durant later confirmed that he was one of the infected players:
Kevin Durant tested positive for coronavirus, Durant tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Durant says he is feeling fine: "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this."
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 17, 2020
The Los Angeles Lakers played the Nets on March 10, their final game before the NBA season was suspended due to the threat of coronavirus. We asked the Lakers if their players or staff have been or will be tested, and a spokesperson responded they had no information to share at this time (Update: The Lakers will reportedly be tested on Wednesday, and the team will be quarantined for the next 14 days due to their exposure to the Nets).
The four Nets testing positive brings the total number of NBA players that are publicly known to have contracted the coronavirus up to seven. Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons tested positive, as did Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz.
The NBA has said it is suspending its season for at least 30 days due to the coronavirus threat, but reports have said that a mid-June return is the “best-case” scenario for the league, if it comes back this season at all. The more players that test positive for this virus, the harder it is to see that happening.
This story will update with more information as it becomes available.
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