Four Nets (including star Durant, asymptomatic) test positive for coronavirus; some backlash at seeming privilege

First came the Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert, whose positive test for coronavirus short-circuited a game, and then suspended the NBA season. A teammate and a player on another team were also found to have the virus.

Yesterday, the Brooklyn Nets announced that four players had the virus, three of them asymptomatic, and were isolated and under care of physicians. Later, star Kevin Durant identified himself as among them, asymptomatic, to The Athletic.

That's big news, though, statistically, it strikes me as a relatively small portion of the team, given some estimates that half the population will get the virus--and most will have survivable symptoms.

And it's likely the tip of the iceberg. "The organization is currently notifying anyone who has had known contact with the players," the Nets stated.

Keep in mind that the Nets had not played the Jazz, and Durant, though traveling and practicing with the team, has not been on the court. There are multiple vectors of transmission.

Note that, as the New York Times's Mark Stein writes in his latest newsletter, the NBA seems focused more on completing the season (and delivering revenue) than taking precautions for the future:

Yet more energy around the league, at least for now, is being invested in gathering ideas for a comeback as soon as conditions allow rather than in heeding the naysayers who, after hearing the latest on Durant and the Nets, would suggest focusing on ensuring that next season starts on time with minimal disruption.

Some backlash

The fact that the Nets were able to use private channels (as per ESPN) to be tested--they are owned by a billionaire, and the players have valuable contracts--generated no small backlash, as evidenced in tweets below from New York Times investigative reporter Megan Twohey and then Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Note, though, basketball writer Tom Ziller arguing that the system, not the team, is to blame--and some readers not quite agreeing with him.

Dear @BrooklynNets, How did an entire basketball team of asymptomatic people get tests in NY, a place where testing is in such short supply that even health care workers -those at greatest risk, with greatest numbers of contacts, doing the most crucial jobs --can't get ones? https://t.co/x9pjhUbMtk

— megan twohey (@mega2e) March 17, 2020

cc @mega2e https://t.co/OVjk0AnEQE https://t.co/2iuHMBs4In

— Norman Oder (@AYReport) March 17, 2020

cc @mega2e https://t.co/mrH8YdA33f

— Norman Oder (@AYReport) March 17, 2020

Kevin Durant tested positive for coronavirus, Durant tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. Durant says he is feeling fine: "Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We're going to get through this."

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 17, 2020

We wish them a speedy recovery. But, with all due respect, an entire NBA team should NOT get tested for COVID-19 while there are critically ill patients waiting to be tested.

Tests should not be for the wealthy, but for the sick. https://t.co/7uQlL3zc7Z

— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) March 17, 2020

Ehhhh pretty sure the owners of the teams beat at least some responsibility for the inequities of the system

— Maxwell Neely-Cohen (@nhyphenc) March 18, 2020

Health department says they are no longer in the business of approving tests. They simply provide guidance on who should be tested, including, “testing is not indicated for mildly ill or asymptomatic persons.”

— Jim Baumbach (@jimbaumbach) March 17, 2020

From the Times:

It is not clear how many Nets employees have been tested for the virus, or how they were able to procure those tests, given that health officials all over the country have struggled to find tests for the general public and themselves. In addition, the guidelines issued by the New York City Department of Health state that it “strongly recommends against testing persons with mild illness who can be safely managed at home, unless a diagnosis may impact patient management.”