Los Angeles (AFP)
In a month, the American dream of Rudy Gobert has darkened: finally selected in February at the All-Star Game, he became Wednesday the first NBA player to contract the coronavirus, harvesting acid criticism for his joke on the subject 48 hours earlier.
Monday at the end of the press conference, Rudy Gobert, in a funny mood, had answered a question about the epidemic of new coronavirus, then got up and touched with his hands the microphones and recorders placed on the table, before to leave the room.
He certainly did not suspect that two days later, the video recording of this sequence would go around the world and generate the most acidic comments towards him on social networks.
Because Wednesday evening, the announcement of his positive test at "Covid-19" made number 27 in the jersey of Jazz the "Patient 0" of the NBA, namely the first player in the League to have contracted the disease. As a consequence, the sine die suspension of the season in court, announced by the League.
A decision by commissioner Adam Silver that caused a shock wave in the NBA microcosm, even though players, coaches and leaders all agreed that it seemed wise.
In the aftermath of this crazy day, neither the NBA nor Utah confirmed that the Frenchman had tested positive for the coronavirus. But there has been little doubt since the American media identified the Frenchman, citing League sources.
- "Prayers" -
"I just spoke on the phone with Rudy. He's fine. Let no one panic": with this tweet, his team-mate in France, Evan Fournier, corroborated the information. Like Jamal Murray, back from Denver, who sent his "prayers" hoping that "the big guy is fine", on the same social network.
An NBA player for seven seasons, Gobert has become one of the major elements of Utah, has been elected two years in a row as the best defender in the League and has experienced the individual consecration of being selected for the last All-Star Game. One of his dreams, which had escaped him last year, even making him cry in frustration in another scene that remained surreal.
A month after having thus gained the great consideration of his peers and having even surprised his world by scoring 21 points in the match of the stars in Chicago, against LeBron James et cie, the looks and the words are no longer the same.
Not only is he the one who precipitated the suspension of the NBA season - which the League could have decided in the long term anyway -, but he is also criticized for his lack of precaution against the coronavirus, even his guilty lightness .
- "Deplored negligence" -
On Thursday, when ESPN announced that rear Donovan Mitchell is the second player on the team to test positive, one of his journalists Adrian Wojnarowski wrote that some of Gobert's teammates "privately lamented his negligence towards them in the locker room, touching them and their belongings. "
An affirmation which immediately aroused the indignant reaction of Evan Fournier on Twitter: "You really blame him all".
For his part, Donovan Mitchell, while confirming on Instagram that he has contracted the coronavirus, wrote: "We are all learning more about the seriousness of this situation and, hopefully, people will be able to continue to learn and realize that 'They must behave responsibly both for their own health and for the well-being of those around them. "
A remark which can be perceived as being intended for Rudy Gobert, who must have a sacred headache and a somewhat knotted stomach, in addition to the fever, aches and cough which are among the symptoms of Covid-19.
Now remains to know, beyond the question related to his physical health, what can be the consequences of this oh so tormented period crossed by the 27 year old player, who a few days ago still hoped to shine in play-offs with Utah, 4th in the Western Conference before the season is suspended.
© 2020 AFP