Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook announced on Monday that he had tested positive for the coronavirus. The announcement came via Twitter.

The positive test for Westbrook came back before the Rockets left for the NBA bubble in Orlando. Westbrook, of course, did not travel with his teammates. NBA leading scorer James Harden and recent addition Luc Mbah a Moute did not travel with the team either.

Houston head coach Mike D’Antoni said he is hoping Westbrook, Harden, and Mbah a Moute arrive to Orlando in the next three to four days. It is believed that Harden and Mbah a Moute tested positive as well, but the NBA and the Rockets both declined to give a reason for their absence.

Upon arrival in Orlando all 322 players that showed up were tested for COVID-19. Of those tested, only two were positive. They were immediately placed in quarantine in isolation housing on site at the Disney Resort. 

It is not clear when Westbrook, Harden, and Mbah a Moute would be ready to play. Harden leads the league in scoring averaging 34.4 points per game. Westbrook is seventh scoring 27.5 points a game. He also averages eight rebounds and seven assists per game. Harden and Westbrook represent over 52 percent of the Rockets’ offensive production.

Houston will also be without reserve forward Bruno Caboclo. The 6-foot-9-inch Caboclo left his room during the initial 48-hour quarantine period that all players had to partake of upon arrival in Orlando. As a result, Caboclo must now quarantine for eight days.  He has only played 28 minutes and scored 10 points for Houston since being acquired from Memphis.

The Rockets are scheduled to resume play in the 2019-20 season on July 31 when they face the Dallas Mavericks. Houston has already clinched a playoff spot. The Rockets are currently sixth in the Western Conference with a record of 40-24 which is identical to that of fifth-place Oklahoma City.

Rick Bouch