Kevin Durant is among the four Brooklyn Nets players to test positive for the coronavirus, ESPN confirmed Tuesday.
“Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine,” Durant told The Athletic, adding that he is feeling fine and not showing any symptoms. “We’re going to get through this.”
The Nets did not identify any players and said Tuesday that of the four players, only one is exhibiting symptoms. All four are isolated and undergoing medical care from team physicians, the Nets said in a statement.
Sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that the player who has symptoms experienced aches when he woke up Tuesday.
Sources told Wojnarowski that the Nets had players tested by a private company, and the team paid out of pocket after they returned from San Francisco last week. The test results came back Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Lakers will be tested Wednesday after learning of the Nets’ positive tests, sources confirmed to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. The Lakers were the last opponents of the Nets before games were suspended.
The four Nets players join Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell and the Pistons’ Christian Wood as NBA players known to have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
The Nets did not play the Jazz or the Pistons in the previous two weeks of the season, which was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. They last played on March 10 in Los Angeles, defeating the Lakers. The Nets were to face the Golden State Warriors two nights later in San Francisco — a game that was to be played without fans — before the NBA season was suspended after Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus. Durant was in Los Angeles for the Nets’ game against the Lakers but was not in San Francisco for the game against the Warriors, his former club.
“I saw that news,” Warriors coach Steve Kerr said of the Nets’ positive tests while speaking on a conference call. “I’m hoping none of our players went and hung out with guys the night before our game. I don’t know if that’s the case or not.”
The Nets said they are currently notifying anyone who has had contact with the players, including recent opponents, and are working closely with state and local health authorities.
“All players and members of the Nets travel party are being asked to remain isolated, closely monitor their health and maintain constant communication with team medical staff,” the Nets said in a statement. “The health of our players and staff is of the highest priority to the organization, and the team is doing everything within its power to ensure that those affected receive the best care possible.”
Durant, 31, agreed to a four-year contract worth up to $164 million with the Nets after spending the previous three seasons with the Warriors, winning two titles and being named NBA Finals MVP twice. He didn’t play this season while rehabilitating an Achilles tendon injury.
For most people, the coronavirus causes only mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
The vast majority of people recover from the virus. According to the World Health Organization, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, and those with more severe illness might take three to six weeks to recover.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
