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On Wednesday evening, the NBA announced that they would be indefinitely suspending all games due to the coronavirus crisis.
Then on Thursday afternoon, after a conference call with owners from all teams, the league reportedly decided that the suspension will be for a minimum of 30 days. The report comes from Vincent Goodwill of Yahoo Sports.
Source to @YahooSports: NBA Owner call just ended. 30 day shutdown then everything will be re-assessed. Some suggested every player will be tested for COVID-19 in the meantime
— Vincent Goodwill (@VinceGoodwill) March 12, 2020
Games were suspended on Wednesday after one of the league’s players — Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert — tested positive for the coronavirus. A game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder was canceled mere seconds before tip-off, with all players and team employees quarantined and tested, even though Gobert was not at the arena.
The tests revealed that one of Gobert’s teammates — fellow Jazz All-Star Donovan Mitchell — also had contracted coronavirus.
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has tested positive for the coronavirus, league sources tell ESPN. Jazz players privately say that Rudy Gobert had been careless in the locker room touching other players and their belongings. Now a Jazz teammate has tested positive.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
The 30-day mark gives the league ample time to re-assess matters, and figure out how best to move forward. If the coronavirus pandemic is largely under control by that time, the league can resume play just in time for the playoffs. Thirty days takes us through April 11, just four days before the conclusion of the regular season.
For what it’s worth, that would leave the Golden State Warriors with two games: April 13 at home vs. the Portland Trail Blazers, and April 15 at the Sacramento Kings. Of course, even if the league resumes in a month — no sure thing — they could opt to change the schedule around to make up some of the missed games. At this point it’s simply too early to have any clue when the league will get the green light to resume play, or how the league will handle matters when that time comes.
Elsewhere in sports, MLB, MLS, the NHL, and the NCAA have all suspended their games for the foreseeable future due to the outbreak.
As always, we’ll keep you updated as more information is made available.
As a reminder, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking people to:
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
This story will be updated with more information. For more information on the coronavirus, visit cdc.gov/coronavirus.