Rudy Gobert has apologized for exposing others, namely his Utah Jazz teammates, to the coronavirus.
Gobert tested positive for the virus, it was announced on Wednesday, March 11, which made the NBA suspend the 2019-2020 season. His teammate Donovan Mitchell also has tested positive.
“I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of concern and support over the last 24 hours,” Gobert wrote Thursday on Instagram. “I have gone through so many emotions since learning of my diagnosis…mostly fear, anxiety, and embarrassment.”
Gobert then said he wanted to educate people about the disease and hopes his experience can serve as a learning lesson to others.
“The first and most important thing is I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered,” he wrote. “At the time, I had no idea I was even infected.”
“I was careless and make no excuse,” Gobert continued. “I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously. I will do whatever I can to support using my experience as way to educate others and prevent the spread of this virus.”
Gobert closed his message out by saying he’s currently under “great care” and expects to make a full recovery.
But whether he’s able to repair things with his Utah Jazz teammates remains to be seen, because, according to ESPN, members are “frustrated” with Gobert for exposing them to the virus.
For one, as a joke, he touched all of the microphones and recorders on March 9 after speaking with the press at the Jazz’s practice facility. That was before he tested positive for the virus.
It’s also been said that Gobert didn’t change his ways after the NBA gave advice on how to prevent the virus from spreading and carried on normal activity like high-fiving players during games.
On Thursday, a report came out that said NBA commissioner Adam Silver asked Gobert to be in a PSA about the coronavirus to help others who may have the same cavalier attitude that he displayed. Shortly after this report, it was later revealed that a child tested positive for COVID-19, after receiving an autograph from one of the Jazz players during a game the Boston Celtics. However, it’s not confirmed which player he received an autograph from.
