Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert was thrown into the cross-hairs of the NBA community when his positive coronavirus test prompted commissioner Adam Silver to suspend the season back in March.
Making matters worse, a video went viral that showed Gobert touching microphones in jestful protest of the coronavirus spread.
“People around me, they really know me, they know who I am and that’s what matters to me,” Gobert said in a video conference with reporters, via ESPN.
STORY: Jazz's Rudy Gobert called the challenge of his coronavirus backlash 'not easy.’ He’s now ready to move forward in Orlando. “To be honest, after everything we've been through, as a team and as human beings, it would be a great comeback,” he said. https://t.co/viQBUVUKfa
— Eric Woodyard (@E_Woodyard) July 3, 2020
Gobert has maintained since day one that he should’ve taken the coronavirus more seriously.
In the months since his diagnosis, Gobert has partnered with the NBA to encourage the public to wear masks and follow the advice of virologists.
“At the end of the day, I won’t be able to control everyone’s perception of me, but I can control my actions, I can control the things I do for the people around me, the community. The things I do for my teammates on the court, off the court, all that stuff I can control it, and that’s what really matters to me,” Gobert continued on to say.
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell also tested positive for the coronavirus and was reportedly extremely upset with Gobert’s carelessness.
Gobert says that the two are now on good terms.
Gobert, Mitchell, and the rest of the Jazz are headed to Orlando July 7.