clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

NETS IN CRISIS: DEANDRE JORDAN BECOMES SECOND PLAYER TO TEST POSITIVE, OPTS OUT OF ‘BUBBLE’

By Net Income

If you buy something from an SB Nation link, Vox Media may earn a commission. See our ethics statement.

Miami Heat v Brooklyn Nets Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

The Nets are in crisis.

Hours after Shams Charania reported that Spencer Dinwiddie has tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19 and has symptoms, DeAndre Jordan tweeted that he too has tested positive since returning to Brooklyn. He will not play in Orlando.

Jordan tweeted his condition on Monday night.

He offered no other details but his mother suggested Jordan contracted the disease in New York. Jordan recently returned to Brooklyn from his home in southern California.

While Dinwiddie 27, has symptoms, Jordan, 31, did not indicate his health situation other than to say he has tested positive. He did, however, opt out of the Orlando “bubble”. Dinwiddie told Shams his situation is “unclear.”

After Jordan’s news broke, Dinwiddie replied to a Woj tweet, saying he still hopes to play, but noted his symptoms.

However, this may not be the end of it, Woj warned...

Even prior to these positive tests, some Nets players — like others on several NBA teams — discussed the possibility of sitting out the restart in Orlando, sources said. As the Nets lose more players, it perhaps becomes easier for other key players to decide that there isn’t a compelling competitive reason to travel and play.

Under league rules, the Nets can add substitute players. After Wilson Chandler opted out of the “bubble” over the weekend, the Nets added Justin Anderson. Woj reported late Sunday, that sources told him the Nets plan to sign a substitute for Jordan, too.

However, the larger issue is how many other Nets players and staffers may test positive ... and whether the situation in Brooklyn will jeopardize the NBA’s plan to return to play, particularly with COVID-19 spreading fast in Florida.

Here’s what the Nets star told Charania...

“Over the past few months, I have been diligent about protecting myself and others from COVID-19 by following all designated protocol and quarantining. I was ready and prepared to rejoin my teammates as we were to be an early entry team in the resumed season. I flew private to return to New York, passed multiple COVID-19 tests over my first several days in New York and was able to participate in a couple practices within the first week.

“Originally, we were supposed to be one of the teams to enter into the Orlando bubble early, but training camp got switched back to New York and unfortunately I am now positive. Given that I have experienced symptoms, including fever and chest tightness, it is unclear on whether or not I’ll be able to participate in Orlando.

“Hindsight is 20/20.”

Dinwiddie told Shams he plans to remain in self-quarantine and re-evaluate after 14 days. Presumably, Jordan will do the same. The Nets are scheduled to leave for the Orlando “bubble” on July 7, nine days from Monday. During the early days of the pandemic, when New York was its epicentr Dinwiddie relocated to San Antonio where his long-time girlfriend, Arielle Roberson, grew up.

Three days ago, Dinwiddie posted a picture of his bulked up body to Instagram...

And earlier Monday, he engaged in a discussion of the U.S. financial system and joked that if permitted, he would wear a jersey that reads “Trillion” above his number, 26, pointing out that that’s the U.S. national debt.

Like Dinwiddie, Jordan’s social media offerings gave no hints of his situation.

DInwiddie and Jordan are the fifth and sixth Nets player to test positive for the coronavirus, but the first since March when the NBA shut down. Overall, of the 302 NBA players tested since last week, 16 have come back with a positive result, including four players on the Sacramento Kings.

While many people who come down with the disease make a full recovery, the first NBA player to test positive, Rudy Gobert, revealed this weekend that three and a half months after he recovered from the disease, he is still experiencing symptoms.

Gobert told L’Equipe, a French newspaper, that his sense of smell still isn’t back to 100 percent.

“The taste has returned, but the smell is still not 100 percent,” Gobert said. “I can smell smells, but not from afar. I spoke to specialists, who told me that it could take up to a year (to return to normal).”

Dinwiddie has averaged 20.6 points, 6.8 assists and 3.5 rebounds so far this season, the best year of his career, helping lead the Nets to the seventh seed entering the renewed season in Orlando.

The next question, of course, is whether any more Nets or staffers test positive ... or opt out.

More From NetsDaily