NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant has tested positive for coronavirus, the Athletic reported on Tuesday, less than a week after the global outbreak prompted the suspension of the National Basketball Association season.

“Everyone be careful, take care of yourself and quarantine. We’re going to get through this,” 10-time NBA All-Star Durant was quoted as saying.

The Nets had said earlier on Tuesday that four of its players were isolated and under the care of team physicians after testing positive for coronavirus but did not identify the individuals.

Durant signed with the Nets last summer but has been sidelined by an Achilles injury sustained during last season’s NBA Finals when he was playing for the Golden State Warriors.

“The organization is currently notifying anyone who has had known contact with the players, including recent opponents, and is working closely with state and local health authorities on reporting,” the team said.

“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.”

Three of the players were asymptomatic while one was showing symptoms of the rapidly spreading virus days after the Utah Jazz reported that two of its players had tested positive for coronavirus.

The Nets last played against the Lakers in Los Angeles on March 10. A day later, the league suspended its season until further notice, as the coronavirus pandemic hit major sporting events across the globe.

LAKERS UNDER QUARANTINE
Meanwhile, members of the Lakers are reportedly under quarantine for 14 days and will be tested for COVID-19.

The Lakers participated in a team conference call on Tuesday after the Nets disclosed that four of their players tested positive for coronavirus, including Durant.

The Nets had the Lakers as their last opponent before the NBA decided to suspend the season.

Brooklyn was on a West Coast swing with Durant in tow and had been scheduled to play in the first fan-free game at Chase Center in San Francisco last Thursday against the Golden State Warriors. But the Nets instead flew home after the NBA called off all games last Wednesday night starting with the contest between Utah and the Oklahoma City Thunder.

To date, the Nets’ foursome and two members of the Jazz — All-Stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell — and Christian Wood of the Detroit Pistons are known to have tested positive for the virus.

The NBA is on hiatus for at least 30 days and not expected to play again for eight weeks, if not longer. — Reuters

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR