Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert issued an apology Thursday via Instagram for carelessly exposing others to the coronavirus.
“The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people I may have endangered.”
It was the first statement from Gobert since testing positive for COVID-19 in Oklahoma City a day earlier.
“I was careless, and I make no excuse. I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously,” said Gobert.
The All-Star center was targeted on social media after a video surfaced, showing him making light of the NBA’s temporary rules for media.
Gobert jokingly touched microphones and recording devices set on a table after his post-shootaround availability concluded Monday.
In addition, Gobert’s nonchalant attitude carried over to the locker room where players privately told ESPN’s Adrian Wonjnarowski, Gobert was giving high-fives and behaving as usual.
The two-time Defensive Player of the Year started feeling symptoms on Tuesday but began feeling better and was listed as questionable before the start of Wednesday night’s game at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
The contest was postponed before tip-off, and both teams were sent to the locker room for testing.
Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell later tested positive for the virus.
Over the last two weeks, the Jazz played against the Washington Wizards, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, and Toronto Raptors. No players from those teams have reported any symptoms.