The professional sports schedule across the country has not yet been impacted by the growing threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak, but that could soon change as the virus continues to spread. In Europe, dozens of events have been postponed or canceled, and in Italy’s Serie A, clubs will play in closed stadiums until at least April 3rd.
In a memo to teams sent on Friday, the NBA stated that teams should begin preparing for the possibility of playing games with no fans in attendance – a strategy that didn’t go over well with Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
After leading the Lakers to a win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night, James told reporters that playing without fans would be “impossible,” and that he will not play in an empty stadium.
LeBron James on possibility of NBA playing games behind closed doors because of coronavirus. LeBron: “I ain’t playing” if there are no fans pic.twitter.com/kpHg6bsFYO
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) March 7, 2020
“I ain’t playing. If I ain’t got the fans in the crowd, that’s what I play for. I play for my teammates, I play for the fans. That’s what it’s all about. If I show up to an arena, and there ain’t no fans there? I ain’t playing. So, they could do what they want to do.”
According to ESPN, the NBA advised players in a separate memo to be more careful when interacting with fans.
Via ESPN:
“In a previous memo sent to teams earlier this week, the NBA recommended players utilize fist-bumps over high-fives with fans and avoid taking items such as pens, balls and jerseys when giving autographs.”
[jwplayer kjJEHpv4-q2aasYxh]