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Utah Jazz star center Rudy Gobert has tested positive for coronavirus, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Gobert felt “good, strong and stable” before the game and was ready to play on Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder. However, things took a turn for the worse.
Utah Jazz All-Star Rudy Gobert has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
Sources say Gobert is feeling good, strong and stable — and was feeling strong enough to play tonight.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
Right after news broke regarding Gobert, the NBA announced the suspension of the 2019-20 season.
Following Rudy Gobert's positive COVID-19 test, the NBA is in an indefinite suspension. https://t.co/h7YpWMrvGE
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
Just minutes before tipoff between the Thunder and Jazz, the game was suddenly called off. Players from both teams were instructed to go to the locker room while fans in the arena were told to leave. According to the arena's public announcer, the game had to be called off “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
The NBA has released their official statement regarding Rudy Gobert and the cancellation of the game. According to the league, Gobert was not with the Jazz at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
LOOK: @NBA official memo on the suspension of the season after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for COVID-19 | @mluisamorales_ @PhilstarNews #NBA pic.twitter.com/3KeocuygNI
— Luisa Morales (@mluisamorales_) March 12, 2020
Prior to the incident, there were whispers around the league — involving both players and league executives — that their precautionary measures against the novel coronavirus would be to play games without fans and with limited staff and crew. This was considered a drastic measure then.
Now, the league is entering an unprecedented situation. From the looks of it, the main priority is the containment of the virus. Fans would have to patiently wait to see what would happen to the 2019-20 season.
Most teams only have less than 20 games left to play in the regular season and the playoffs are just around the corner. It remains to be seen how the league will manage the incident, but they will reportedly use the suspension to find solutions to the problem.
