Pistons scout Maury Hanks ‘fighting for his life’ with coronavirus

Maury Hanks, a longtime NBA scout currently working for the Detroit Pistons, is hospitalized and in ICU with COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.

Hanks has worked with the Pistons since 2014 but has worked in NBA and college circles for decades. Hanks is based in Knoxville, Tennessee and it is unclear how he contracted coronavirus but he has not been in recent contact with individuals within the Pistons organization.

Jazz player Rudy Gobert was the first NBA player known to contract coronavirus and it was subsequently announced that teammate Donovan Mitchell and Pistons big man Christian Wood also were diagnosed with COVID-19.

Recently, it was reported that a freelance camera operator who worked the March 11 game between the Jazz and Pistons was in a coma due to complications from COVID-19. Wood, it was announced by his agent, has made a full recovery.

Hanks is so well-regarded in NBA circles his serious battle with the disease received a big write-up by Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Woj writes that Hanks is “fighting for his life” but that his large group of friends and well-wishers think the “ultimate survivor” will pull through one more time.

A small taste, but read the whole thing:

As Gregg Polinsky, Pistons director of player personnel, said: “In my position, you walk into the [draft] room and maybe somebody in ownership or a coach tries to flip it on you — and Maury always held the line. He never, never flips. It’s an incredible quality. So many guys would rather keep their job than keep their principles. Maury always keeps his principles.”