Rockets’ Russell Westbrook Tests Positive For COVID-19

Here’s news you don’t want to hear.

Shams Charania, senior lead NBA writer at The Athletic, reports Monday that Rockets star guard Russell Westbrook has tested positive for COVID-19.

Westbrook tweeted a statement at the same time Monday:

“I tested positive for COVID-19 prior to my team’s departure to Orlando,” he wrote. “I’m currently feeling well, quarantined, and looking forward to rejoining my teammates when I am cleared. Thank you all for the well wishes and continued support. Please take this virus seriously. Be safe. Mask up!”

Some Rockets players arrived Thursday at the NBA’s “bubble” at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. The Rockets are staying at the Grand Floridian hotel with seven other teams while the NBA finishes its 2019-20 regular season with a truncated schedule and team list, then heads into a postseason to close the campaign. 

Players had to quarantine before flying to Orlando, and after being tested and on-boarded at the resort, had to quarantine for an additional day—while being tested multiple times. According to an ESPN report, Rockets player Bruno Caboclo broke his in-resort quarantine, so he’ll now have to enter a 10-day quarantine in his hotel room while receiving more tests. 

Meanwhile, Rockets star James Harden, forward Luc Mbah a Moute, and head coach Mike D’Antoni have yet to join the team in Orlando.