Durant, 3 other Nets players test positive for COVID-19 virus
Four Brooklyn Nets players have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, the team announced Wednesday.
While the Nets did not identify the players, Kevin Durant told The Athletic's Shams Charania that he is one of them. "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself, and quarantine," Durant told Charania while saying he feels fine.
He added: "We're going to get through this."
Durant has not played all season due to a torn Achilles he suffered in last June's NBA Finals. According to the Nets, one of the infected players has shown symptoms while the other three are asymptomatic. Durant has not had symptoms, according to Charania.
The four Brooklyn players more than doubled the number of NBA players who've tested positive for the coronavirus. Prior to Tuesday's announcement, only three others - Utah Jazz teammates Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, and Detroit Pistons forward Christian Wood - had confirmed cases.
According to the CDC, there were 4,226 cases of COVID-19 in the United States as of Tuesday. In Canada, there were 433 confirmed cases.
The Nets last played a game on March 10 against the Los Angeles Lakers. They were scheduled to face the Golden State Warriors on March 12 with no fans present due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but that matchup was ultimately canceled.
The Lakers released a statement Tuesday night saying they had been in contact with players and basketball operations staff regarding the matter.
"Given the exposure risks from our game against the Nets ... we are following the next steps of our COVID-19 procedures and protocol that are established in consultation with various health officials, the NBA, and our UCLA Health doctors," the statement read.
Durant accompanied the Nets on the Western road trip. Brooklyn players were tested when the team returned to New York from San Francisco and results came back Tuesday, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski. The Nets reportedly paid out of pocket for a private company to conduct the medical tests.