The NBA season grounded to an abrupt halt on March 11 when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus. Since then, opinions on whether or not the season would ever finish have been mixed. Even now, as the NBA has migrated to Disney World, there is no guarantee that it will happen. The virus has shown few signs of slowing down, and cases are actually surging in Florida.
Health and safety concerns regarding the pandemic, combined with a growing social justice movement and questions about the quarantine situation have raised plenty of questions about whether the NBA will be able to pull this off, and, beyond that, whether it's even ethical for them to try.
For now, at least, the answer seems to be that they're forging ahead. In late June, players returned to team facilities for workouts, and teams started testing for COVID-19. That process has already turned up dozens of positive tests, including Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokic, DeAndre Jordan, Malcolm Brogdon, Harrison Barnes and a number of other players.
As this process continues to unfold, there will likely be even more NBA players and team members who test positive for the coronavirus, because it is unfortunately extremely contagious. Below is a list of players and figures from around the league who have been confirmed to be infected with COVID-19 to this point:
Members of NBA who tested positive for COVID-19
- Pat Connaughton, Milwaukee Bucks -- Diagnosis announced on July 20
- Eric Bledsoe, Milwaukee Bucks -- Diagnosis reported on July 16 (Update: Returned to practice on July 24)
- James Ennis, Orlando Magic -- Diagnosis/recovery announced on July 15
- Harrison Barnes, Sacramento Kings -- Diagnosis announced on July 14
- Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets -- Diagnosis announced on July 13 (Update: Returned to practice on July 22)
- Gary Payton Jr., Washington Wizards -- Diagnosis reported on July 9
- Thomas Bryant, Washington Wizards -- Diagnosis reported on July 9 (Update: Returned to practice on July 17)
- Taurean Prince, Brooklyn Nets -- Diagnosis reported on July 7 (Update: Not traveling to bubble)
- Landry Shamet, Los Angeles Clippers -- Diagnosis reported on July 4
- Three unnamed players, Miami Heat -- Diagnoses reported on July 3, 4
- Three unnamed players, New Orleans Pelicans -- Diagnosis announced on June 30
- DeAndre Jordan, Brooklyn Nets -- Diagnosis announced on June 29 (Update: Not traveling to bubble)
- Spencer Dinwiddie, Brooklyn Nets -- Diagnosis announced on June 29 (Update: Not traveling to bubble)
- Derrick Jones Jr., Miami Heat -- Diagnosis reported on June 25 (Update: Returned to practice on July 14)
- Alex Len, Sacramento Kings -- Diagnosis reported on June 24 (Update: Recovery announced on July 19)
- Buddy Hield, Sacramento Kings -- Diagnosis reported on June 24 (Update: Returned to practice on July 15)
- Jabari Parker, Sacramento Kings -- Diagnosis announced on June 24 (Update: Returned to practice on July 15)
- Malcolm Brogdon, Indiana Pacers -- Diagnosis announced on June 24 (Update: Cleared to practice on July 15)
- Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets -- Diagnosis reported on June 23 (Update: Arrived in bubble on July 14)
- Two unnamed players, Phoenix Suns -- Diagnosis reported on June 23
- Four unnamed players, unnamed Western Conference team -- Diagnosis reported on June 23
- Michael Malone, Denver Nuggets coach -- Diagnosis and recovery announced on June 15
- James Dolan, New York Knicks owner -- Diagnosis announced March 28 (Update: Cleared on April 22)
- Two unnamed players, Los Angeles Lakers -- Diagnosis reported on March 19 (Update: Players Symptom-free on March 31)
- Marcus Smart, Boston Celtics -- Diagnosis announced on March 19 (Update: Cleared on March 30)
- Three unnamed members of organization, Philadelphia 76ers -- Diagnosis announced on March 19
- Kevin Durant, three unnamed teammates, Brooklyn Nets -- Diagnosis announced on March 17 (Update: All four symptom-free on April 1)
- Christian Wood, Detroit Pistons -- Diagnosis announced on March 14 (Update: "Fully recovered," per agent on March 26)
- Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz -- Diagnosis announced on March 12 (Update: cleared on March 27)
- Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz -- Diagnosis announced on March 11 (Update: Cleared on March 27)
