(Gumaling na sa COVID-19) WESTBROOK BALIK-ENSAYO

MIAMI – Balik na sa ensayo si Houston Rockets guard Russell Westbrook makaraang ma­karekober sa COVID-19.

Si Westbrook ay napilitang sumailalim sa quarantine sa loob ng dalawang linggo matapos na magpositibo sa virus, pagkatapos ay dumating noong Lunes at nag-negatibo ngunit nanatili pa rin sa isolation ng dalawang araw sa kanyang hotel room sa Walt Disney World sa Orlando, Florida.

Sa pagsisimula ng scrimmage games noong Miyerkoles ay nag-aadjust pa si Westbrook sa kanyang unang pagtapak sa court kasama si NBA scoring leader James Harden at ang iba pa niyang  teammates.

“I’m just thankful and blessed to be able to go out and compete again,” wika ni Westbrook . “Before I had to quarantine, I was in pretty good shape, so I should be all right.”

Sinabi ni Westbrook na ang baradong ilong lamang ang kanyang sintomas at gumanda ang kanyang pakiramdam sa isolation.

“Just quarantining at home, trying to be productive, obviously not able to get on the basketball floor, but finding ways to kind of stay active and do as much conditioning I can probably do as far as that,” ani Westbrook.

“I have to see if I can make a layup at this point. I got to start there and work my way from there.”

Ayon kay coach Nike D’Antoni, posibleng  hindi makapaglaro si Westbrook, na umanib sa Rockets noong Hulyo sa isang trade sa Oklahoma City, sa Biyernes sa unang scrimmage ng Houston laban sa defending NBA champion Toronto makaraang sumailalim sa  80 percent ng full workout.

“We’ll wait the next two practices, see where he is, whether he wants to be thrown out there real quick or wants another couple of days,” sabi ni D’Antoni.

“Whatever he wants is cool. He knows his body. We’re not talking about a normal athlete. We’re talking about a super athlete.”

Si Westbrook, na­ngunguna sa liga sa assists sa nakalipas na dalawang seasons, ay may average na 27.5 points, 8.0 rebounds at 7.0 assists sa  53 games para sa Rockets nang suspendihin ang NBA season noong Marso 21 dahil sa coronavirus pandemic.