The sports world got extremely shaken when Rudy Gobert, a Utah Jazz All-Star player, tested positive for the deadly novel coronavirus, says an article. This news had resulted in 58 other members of the organization to get tested for the novel coronavirus. Another issue with this is the shortage of testing kits in the United States.


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Brooklyn Nets Players Tests Positive

Recently, news about Kevin Durant testing positive for the novel coronavirus had surfaced and it is not fake news. Also, three of his teammates in the Brooklyn Nets were positive for the COVID-19. This recent news increased the total NBA players who tested positive for the deadly virus to seven.

The Statistics

With approximately 450 NBA players in the league, the seven total COVID-19 cases in the league is a small sample size. These results mean that in 65 NBA players, one tests positive for the COVID-19. This is an alarming statistic as there is only one positive case of the novel coronavirus in 78,000 US population. The data originated from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Out of the seven NBA players with the COVID-19, five are asymptomatic. This suggests that the total number of people carrying the deadly virus is a lot of times higher compared to the 4,200 people who tested positive for the COVID-19 in the United States.

Testing other NBA Teams

The high rate of NBA player testing positive for the dangerous novel coronavirus is an indication of how many tests were given to their group. The basketball players of the Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Oklahoma City, and Toronto Raptors were tested due to their recent contact with the Utah Jazz. Additionally, four other teams were tested. Among those who were tested, Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons was the only one who tested positive for the COVID-19.

The Rationale for Testing NBA Players

Before the lockdown, the NBA players were in direct contact with the public including those associated with the league. However, other people get exposed in public places like subways and airports in the past month.

Other Ill Patients Need the Test Kits More

According to the Mayor of New York City Bill de Blasio, he wished the speedy recovery of the infected NBA players. However, he said that testing for the entire league should be postponed because other patients need to get tested for the virus more than they do.

A USC's sports business professor named David Carter disagrees with the statement of Blasio. Carter said the increased testing of NBA players also leads to the health and safety of the players and their fans.

The Oklahoma City Thunder and the Nets had employed the services of private companies to administer the test. The CDC and public health labs have only conducted 32,000 tests as of March 17. Also, the CDC and public health labs are still at a dilemma on how to do widespread testing throughout the country.