The NBA restarts its season tonight in the Orlando bubble, and the Jazz-Pelicans opener is a "symbol of basketball’s full-circle journey over the last four-plus months." Jazz C Rudy Gobert was one of the first players to test positive for the coronavirus, and he said, "The media portrayed it like I caused the NBA to shut down, instead of saying that it’s a pandemic and Rudy Gobert tested positive. For a lot of people ... they really thought I brought the coronavirus to the United States." But to Gobert, the Jazz’ "most fraught internal moments are in the past" (WASHINGTON POST, 7/30). The DESERET NEWS goes with, "The Jazz Were At The Center Of A Sports Shutdown. Now, They’re On Center Stage."
Sources said that the Pelicans and Jazz have discussed a plan to "surround the Black Lives Matter signage on the Wide World of Sports arena court and kneel together during the playing of the national anthem." Instead of having two groups protest separately, the Pelicans and Jazz are "adamant that they want to display a united front," sources said. The coaches are "expected to join the players in the demonstration" (ESPN.com, 7/28).
