Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook has tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the NBA restart in Orlando. Westbrook released a statement Monday morning stating he tested positive for the virus prior to leaving for Orlando.
Russell Westbrook Latest NBA Star to Test Positive for Coronavirus
The Orlando bubble is off to a great start. Not only have several players opted out of the NBA restart, but more have now suffered injuries or tested positive for COVID-19. Westbrook is the newest name on that ever-growing list.
Westbrook stated he feels fine and plans to join his team in Orlando as soon as possible. He also gave some solid advice, urging everyone to wear a mask. He signed off on the idea with his trademark #whynot.
https://twitter.com/russwest44/status/1282719257369866240?s=20
Since joining the Rockets, Westbrook has seen a bit of a career revitalization. He posted his highest points-per-game mark since his 2017 MVP campaign. He won’t average a triple-double for a fourth consecutive season, but — alongside fellow MVP James Harden — his Rockets were eyeing a shot at the NBA title.
It’s yet to be seen how this news will affect the Rockets and their title hopes moving forward. If Westbrook recovers and rejoins the team prior to the restarted playoffs, there’s no reason to believe Houston won’t be legitimate contenders. However, this unpredictable virus could easily disrupt the entire NBA bubble, not just the Rockets.
There are still serious concerns about the NBA restart. The state of Florida is now the world’s largest COVID-19 hotspot, and several teams have already canceled practices without giving any specific reasons. Now, with one of the leagues’ biggest stars (even if BleacherReport doesn’t think so) testing positive, things could go south rather quickly. It’s a slippery slope from here.
This is an ongoing story. Check back with LastWordOnProBasketball.com for the latest updates on all things NBA.
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