Breaking news: NBA season suspended; Rudy Gobert positive for COVID-19
The NBA has suspended its 2019-2020 season in light of the continuing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak scare.
The NBA announces it has suspended the season following a positive COVID-19 test result for a Utah Jazz player. pic.twitter.com/59UjnoyKDO
— Tania Ganguli (@taniaganguli) March 12, 2020
The announcement came shortly after the Oklahoma City Thunder-Utah Jazz game scheduled for Wednesday night was postponed just moments before tip-off.
.@royceyoung reports that the Thunder-Jazz game was seconds away from tipping off when the Thunder's head medical staffer sprinted onto the floor to talk to referees in Oklahoma City.
At that point, players and staff were sent back to their respective locker rooms. pic.twitter.com/WsSOU09kVP
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020
Apparently, Jazz all-star big man Rudy Gobert, who was not in the venue, had contracted the illness. It was known before tip-off that he tested positive.
The PA announcer at the Chesapeake Energy Arena then informed fans about the cancellation of the game.
Both the Thunder and Jazz went on to be quarantined inside the arena in OKC.
Jazz vs. Thunder game postponed announcement: pic.twitter.com/c0k9jHmDXh
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 12, 2020
The NBA "will use hiatus to determine next steps moving forward," league says. https://t.co/tWoRO8pbfT
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
The NBA has suspended the season.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
The NBA Board of Governors primarily discussed playing games inside empty arenas aside from putting the league in hiatus, but they went the latter’s direction.
Earlier, the Golden State Warriors and Brooklyn Nets’ game slated in San Francisco was declared to be played closed doors.