Donovan Mitchell tests positive as American sports shudder to a halt

The first NBA player to contract coronavirus has apologised after his “careless” attitude was exposed — and a teammate tested positive.

Joe Ingles’ Utah Jazz have been rocked again with a second player, All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell, testing positive for the coronavirus.

It follows the revelation on Thursday that All-Star centre Rudy Gobert had tested positive and there are fears for other Australian NBA players Dante Exum, Thon Maker and Matthew Dellavedova.

Exum, a former Jazz player, had dinner with Ingles and Gobert before the Jazz played the Cleveland Cavaliers on March 2.

The NBA on Wednesday moved swiftly to suspend the season for all teams after Gobert’s test came back positive on Wednesday. On Thursday a 30-day shutdown would be enforced, before the situation was re-evaluated.

Other leagues and competitions are following suit.

THE National Hockey League has also suspended its season. “Our goal is to resume play as soon as it is appropriate and prudent, so that we will be able to complete the season and award the Stanley Cup. Until then, we thank NHL fans for your patience and hope you stay healthy,” the league said in a statement.

MAJOR League Baseball has cancelled the rest of spring training and is delaying the start of the regular season by at least two weeks.

The NCAA has cancelled its men’s and women’s March Madness college basketball tournaments.

NASCAR will race the next two weekends without fans. The events at Atlanta Motor Speedway and Homestead-Miami Speedway will be restricted to competitors, crews, officials and other necessary personnel to conduct the race.

Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert. (AP Photo/Kim Raff)

The Jazz were moments away from playing the Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma when Gobert’s test was revealed.

Mitchell confirmed his positive test via Instagram. “Thanks to everyone who has been reaching out since hearing the news about my positive test,” Mitchell wrote on Instagram. “We are all learning more about the seriousness of this situation and hopefully people can continue to educate themselves and realise that they need to behave responsibly both for their own health and for the well being of those around them. I appreciate the authorities in Oklahoma who were helpful with the testing process and everyone from the @utahjazz who have been so supportive. I am going to keep following the advice of our medical staff and hope that we can all come together and be there for each other and our neighbours who need our help.”

Ingles and the rest of the Jazz players, coaches and other staff who travelled on the team’s chartered plane submitted a cheek swab.

But Mitchell was the only one to test positive for the deadly virus. The team conducted 58 tests in all.

GOBERT APOLOGISES FOR STUPIDITY

Gobert joked about the virus before his positive test. On Monday he touched reporters’ microphones and tape recorders at the end of a press conference in a playful way.

ESPN reported Jazz players were saying privately Gobert also had a cavalier attitude in the locker room by touching teammates and their belongings.

Gobert apologised on Instagram. “I have gone through so many emotions since learning of my diagnosis ... mostly fear, anxiety, and embarrassment,” he wrote. “The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered. At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse. I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously. I will do whatever I can to support using my experience as way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus.

I am under great care and will fully recover. Thank you again for all your support. I encourage everyone to take all of the steps to stay safe and healthy. Love.”

There are fears for the Jazz’s opponents the past 10 days.

The NBA has told the Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics and Toronto Raptors their players should self-quarantine.

The Pistons’ Australian centre Thon Maker played 10 minutes against the Jazz on Saturday.

Gobert played 35 minutes, Mitchell 34 and Ingles 26 in the game.

Another Australian, Matthew Dellavedova, played 29 minutes for the Cavaliers against the Jazz on March 2.

Gobert and Mitchell both played 34 minutes and Ingles 29 minutes.

Exum, who has an ankle injury, did not play but he told reporters on March 2 he had enjoyed a dinner in Cleveland with former Jazz teammates Ingles and Gobert on the eve of the game.

The Jazz drafted Exum in 2014 but after repeated serious injuries the team traded him to the Cavaliers in December.

— with wires

Originally published as Donovan Mitchell tests positive as American sports shudder to a halt