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Aussie NBA player rocked by wife's positive virus test

australian associated press
·2-min read
Ryan Broekhoff, pictured here in action for the Dallas Mavericks in February, 2020.
Ryan Broekhoff in action for the Dallas Mavericks in February, 2020. (Photo by Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)

Australia's Ryan Broekhoff has not joined the Philadelphia 76ers on the eve of the NBA season restart because his wife has tested positive to COVID-19.

Katie Broekhoff has an auto-immune disease and is highly-susceptible to the virus.

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The Broekhoffs also have a one-year-old son, Jackson.

“I am not with the 76ers right now in Orlando because my wife who is high risk tested positive for COVID,” Broekhoff announced on Twitter on Sunday.

“We have a young son and my focus needs to be with my family at this time.

“I appreciate the 76ers for their support.”

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Broekhoff signed with the 76ers earlier this month and was scheduled to leave his family and join the team in the “bubble” at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, for the restart of the NBA season.

If the 76ers advance to the NBA Finals he would be away from his family for three months.

Broekhoff's family situation was something he spoke about after signing with the 76ers.

“I have a wife and a one-year old son, and my wife has an auto-immune disease, so she's at high risk for the COVID,” Broekhoff said.

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Broekhoff’s dilemma after wife’s positive virus test

The Melbourne-born three-point specialist said he spoke with 76ers' general manager Elton Brand and coach Brett Brown about his family circumstance and described signing with the team in a pandemic as not “an easy decision by any means”.

“It's taken a lot for us to be able to get to this point where we signed,” he said.

“We spoke to Elton Brand and spoke to coach and just wanted to get some more information of how the bubble would be down in Orlando, and if anything happens at home, what are my options to get back and take care of my family.”

Broekhoff was waived by the Dallas Mavericks in February.

The 76ers were looking to bolster their three-point shooting with the addition of Broekhoff, who knocked down 40-per cent of his shots from beyond the arc in two seasons with Dallas.