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Former Golden State Warriors superstar Kevin Durant is the latest NBA star to test positive for the coronavirus. Durant and three of his Brooklyn Nets teammates contracted the virus, the team announced on Tuesday.
Brooklyn did not reveal the four players who tested positive, but Durant announced that he was one of them shortly after the team’s statement.
A statement from the Brooklyn Nets: pic.twitter.com/QnETcDEHCJ
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 17, 2020
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 season was suspended on Wednesday night after the first player — Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert — tested positive. Shortly thereafter, Gobert’s teammate Donovan Mitchell also tested positive. A few days later, Detroit Pistons center Christian Wood announced that he had the virus as well.
Brooklyn’s announcement means that there are now seven known cases of coronavirus in the NBA, though there are likely more. The press release notes that three of the Nets players are not displaying symptoms. Durant is one of those three who is asymptomatic.
The Nets were in San Francisco when the season was suspended, as they were set to face the Golden State Warriors. On a conference call on Tuesday, Warriors coach Steve Kerr admitted that he didn’t know if any Warriors were hanging out with their former teammate, or any other Nets players.
Steve Kerr on the news that four Nets players tested positive for COVID-19.
— Wes Goldberg (@wcgoldberg) March 17, 2020
"I'm hoping none of our guys went and hung out with any of their players the night before our game."
Added he doesn't know if that happened or not.
Kerr also noted that while the Warriors have exercised precautions with their players, they have not pursued tests for players who aren’t displaying symptoms.
Steve Kerr on the Warriors not testing asymptomatic players for the coronavirus: "It is frustrating, but it's just the reality. We're in the same boat as everybody. It's very difficult to find a test in California and many places."
— Connor Letourneau (@Con_Chron) March 17, 2020
As always, we’ll keep you updated on this situation.