Donovan Mitchell slams Chris Paul for chain reaction that altered NBA season during COVID-19 outbreak

Rudy Gobert’s positive COVID-19 result that ended the 2019–20 NBA season on March 11, 2020, put the Utah Jazz in the spotlight and set off a chain reaction that altered sports for the next few years. Donovan Mitchell claimed that the Jazz players ended up getting intoxicated in the locker room after their game against the Oklahoma City Thunder was postponed in an interview on the most recent episode of “The Old Man and The Three” podcast with JJ Redick.

In the locker room, Mitchell said, “I wouldn’t say there was fear. It was just like, what can we do? We’re just here.” We had dinner and then wine that night, thanks to (Chris Paul — then with the Thunder), who provided 15 bottles.

“We got wasted. We drank; I won’t lie to you about that. Because we’re just like, Okay, there’s clearly no game,” You’re at a period where everyone is calling, and we won’t be playing for a while. Everyone is dialing. Everyone is on FaceTime with us. Everyone in this locker room is being called by everybody you can think of. And while we sit there, we simply have no idea what will transpire. We’re attempting to avoid being afraid by drinking, if you get what I mean. one of those situations in which you feel helpless.”

Before being allowed to leave the arena, Mitchell and the other Jazz players were in their locker room for approximately nine hours.

Mitchell wanted to see if he could find someone that could arrange a private plane to take the players back to Utah but didn’t have any luck in that pursuit. The All-Star guard, who is now with the Cleveland Cavaliers, also said that a man wearing a hazmat suit ended up driving the players back to a hotel.

Mitchell continued, “I have photographs on my phone from that night that I’ll definitely post up in my house at some point and tell my kids like, ‘This is one of the biggest events in sports, in the history of the country.” Mitchell said he will “never forget that night.”

It’s undoubtedly an event that many will never forget, but Mitchell and his Jazz teammates will always have a wild tale to tell. The 2019–20 NBA season ultimately ended up being suspended until late July before returning to finish the year inside of the bubble at Walt Disney World.

 

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