Orlando (United States) (AFP)

Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook, positive for the coronavirus in early July and arrived in Florida on Monday after two weeks in quarantine, reunited with his teammates on Wednesday in training in the Disney World bubble, where the NBA season will resume on July 30.

Before this session, Westbrook, who remained isolated for 48 more hours in his hotel room within the Florida complex, the time to be tested negative twice, said "to have had no symptoms of Covid- 19 "otherwise a" slight cold ".

“I'm just grateful and lucky to be able to come out and play again,” said the point guard, MVP of the 2017 season. “Before I had to quarantine I was in pretty good shape so I should be fine. "

Speaking of how he has lived the past two weeks, Westbrook said he "tried to stay active" at home.

"Obviously, I couldn't go on a court, but I found ways to do as much cardio as possible. We'll see my physical condition, but that's really the last thing I worry about. I feel very good." , he insisted, joking: "I have to see if I can double-step at this point".

Westbrook, who joined the Rockets in 2019 from Oklahoma City, may not play Houston's first friendly against defending champion Toronto on Friday, coach Mike D'Antoni has suggested, who wants to "wait for both. next training sessions to see where it is ".

"Whatever he wants is fine with us, he added nonetheless. He knows his physique. I repeat, we are not talking about a normal athlete. We are talking about a great athlete, and sometimes I under him. - Esteem. I know that today, I will maybe ask a lot of it in training, but he could follow it without any problem. We will rely on what he says and on the advice of the medical staff. "

Westbrook, the only player in NBA history to have averaged a triple-double over an entire season since Oscar Robertson, has averaged 27.5 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists this year in 53 games.

With a record of 40 wins for 24 losses, the Rockets are sixth in the Western Conference. Guaranteed to play in the play-offs, they are counting on the 8 remaining regular season games to inherit a better seed.

© 2020 AFP