Russell Westbrook tests positive for coronavirus

Nine-time NBA All-Star Russell Westbrook of Long Beach, California tested positive for coronavirus on Monday according to Michael C. Wright of nba.com.  The 31-year-old point guard was in his first season with the Houston Rockets after 11 seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Westbrook tested positive for coronavirus before the Rockets travelled to Orlando, and is not part of the NBA player bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida at this time.

In 53 games for Houston, Westbrook was averaging 27.5 points per game, eight rebounds per game, and seven assists per game. Known for his 144 career triple doubles, Westbrook is second all-time on the NBA triple double list. The only player with more career triple doubles is Oscar Robertson of Charlotte, Tennessee, who had 181 triple doubles from 1960 to 1974 with the Cincinnati Royals and Milwaukee Bucks.

Prior to the coronavirus pause, Westbrook also had a field goal percentage of .474, a three-point percentage of .254, and a free-throw percentage of .777 in 2019-20. Even though Westbrook is a point guard, he is known for his high number of shot attempts. He leads the NBA this season in two-point shot attempts with 998.

In addition to Westbrook’s positive test, a Rockets’ player is receiving negative criticism at this time. That is because it was reported on Monday that Rockets forward Bruno Caboclo of Sao Paulo, Brazil broke quarantine, and now as a result, must self-isolate in his room for 10 days. Caboclo is one of two players who have broken NBA quarantine rules. The other is Sacramento Kings power forward Richaun Holmes of Lockport, Illinois. Like Caboclo, Holmes has to self-isloate for 10 days in his room.

Heading into the NBA restart, the Rockets have a record of 40 wins and 24 losses. They are one of six teams in the Western Conference, who have automatically qualified for the postseason.