NBA player sledged by mum after 'accidental' virus breach
Sacramento Kings big man Richaun Holmes found himself in hot water not only with the NBA, but his own mother as well, after breaking the strict quarantine rules governing the league’s Disney World restart.
The 22 teams remaining in playoff contention have mostly arrived at the NBA’s ‘bubble’ in Florida, where the league will hold the rest of the season - albeit with a surge in virus cases seen in the state.
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Holmes will be required to quarantine for eight days, and be subject to rigorous coronavirus testing throughout, after crossing the campus line to receive a food delivery.
“After the initial quarantine period, I briefly and accidentally cross the NBA campus line to pick up a food delivery,” Holmes said in a statement posted on Twitter.
“I am currently in quarantine and have eight days left.
“I apologise for my actions and I look forward to joining my teammates for our playoff push.”
While Holmes’ teammates were no doubt disappointed in him, now that he’s going to miss the majority of the team’s practices before the season restarts at the end of the month, they weren’t the only ones to be irked by his carelessness.
Holmes mother Lydecia, a vocal supporter of her son on Twitter, took to the social media platform to chide him for breaking the rules, as inadvertent has his transgression may have been.
“You only cross the line for your MOMA’s COOKING!” she wrote, tagging her son.
“AND I WAS NOT IN FLORIDA SIR!!”
You only cross the line for your MOMA’s COOKING! AND I WAS NOT IN FLORIDA SIR!! #lol @Rich_Holmes22. Love you baby!
— Dr. Lydecia Holmes (@DrLydecia) July 13, 2020
As though to let her son know she wasn’t going to hold it against him, she added ‘love you’ at the end.
The NBA is targeting a resumption of play on July 31, but some believe their plans could be in jeopardy due to the massive increase in COVID-19 cases in Florida.
Former NBA MVP tests positive for COVID-19
Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook announced Monday on Twitter that he has tested positive for COVID-19.
Westbrook said that he tested positive before the Rockets departed for the NBA restart in Orlando, meaning that he couldn’t travel with the team to Disney.
Rockets coach Mike D’Antoni told reporters on Sunday night that he was expecting Westbrook to arrive and join the team by midway through the week.
It’s not clear if D’Antoni knew about Westbrook’s COVID-19 diagnosis before he made that estimate about his arrival, and Westbrook’s current arrival timeline is unknown.
The Rockets are currently in sixth place in the Western Conference and have clinched a playoff berth.
Westbrook is currently quarantining, but is experiencing no symptoms. He encouraged everyone to take the coronavirus seriously and mask up.
