UPDATE: March 12, 2:38 p.m. — The NBA has decided to suspend operations for 30 days.
The NBA has told its teams that the league will be suspended for 30 days, minimum.
— Bruce Arthur (@bruce_arthur) March 12, 2020
The NBA announced on Wednesday it has suspended the 2019-2020 season while sorting out the fallout from Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert testing positive for COVID-19, the illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
A suspended season provides a chance to return at some point, but in the meantime it provides the league a chance to re-assess the impact of Gobert’s positive test. He was reportedly asymptomatic, but the virus can incubate for up to 14 days before symptoms show up, according to the World Health Organization — although WHO says it is most common for them to show up around Day 5.
The previous two weeks of the Jazz schedule included a home game against Toronto, road games against Detroit, Boston, New York, and Cleveland, and a home game against Washington. This does not mean Gobert had COVID-19 that entire time, but without knowing for certain, caution must be exercised.
Some teams have begun the process of self-isolation and testing to prevent further spread of the disease. We’ll track those teams below.
UPDATE: March 12, 10:39 a.m. — The Knicks weren’t the only team that had reservations about playing games without fans, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported Thursday. Woj also states that the Rockets encouraged a 3-4 week pause.
The Rockets did favor a 3-4 weeks pause that would allow the NBA to play into the summer, sources said. They were less enthusiastic about the idea of playing games in the short-term without fans. https://t.co/RY3SKtfTM3
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
Raptors order self-quarantine for next two weeks
Sources: The Raptors have informed their players to self-quarantine for the next 14 days due to coronavirus situation. Toronto faced Utah and Rudy Gobert on Monday.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
Celtics under self-quarantine in Milwaukee
BREAKING: Sister station in Boston reporting that Celtics team under self-quarantine after game with Utah Jazz player, who tested positive for Coronavirus. Team was supposed to play Bucks at Fiserv Forum tonight, but NBA is suspending the season. @fox6wakeup pic.twitter.com/TCPANQzUKY
— Angelica Duria (@angelicaduria) March 12, 2020
Pistons reportedly ordered to self-quarantine
Amid NBA shutdown, #Pistons reportedly advised to self-quarantine: https://t.co/B0ty9HtNid pic.twitter.com/vd4cWlkLZb
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) March 12, 2020
Cavaliers ordered to self-quarantine
The Cleveland Cavaliers are among the teams told to self-quarantine after a member of the Utah Jazz was diagnosed with the coronavirus.https://t.co/J3JKix8CgT
— News 5 Cleveland (@WEWS) March 12, 2020
G League suspends play indefinitely, same as NBA
The NBA G League has suspended its season after NBA's indefinite suspension.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
Knicks also ordered to self-quarantine after playing Jazz recently
From earlier: late Wednesday, Knicks players were under the impression that they would self quarantine in wake of Rudy Gobert’s positive coronavirus test: https://t.co/UdTOnGcp9q
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) March 12, 2020