ORLANDO, Fla. — In a time of year in which teams are battling for playoff positioning, the NBA found itself in a different kind of battle on Thursday morning.
The NBA announced on Wednesday night that the regular season would be suspended until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus, named COVID-19 by the World Health Organization.
Rudy Gobert was identified as the player that tested positive as news came to light just prior to tipoff as the Jazz were set to play a road game against the Oklahoma City Thunder. The game was eventually postponed and players on both teams were quarantined and tested for the virus.
The Jazz announced on Thursday morning that one additional, unnamed player tested positive for COVID-19. According to Jeff Zillgitt of USA TODAY, that player is Donovan Mitchell. After the second positive test, the Jazz stated they will be working with the CDC, Oklahoma and Utah state officials and the NBA to determine the best path moving forward.
The news of the NBA suspending the season shocked many around the country as the concern of the coronavirus grows in the United States. The decision was met by skepticism by some but the overwhelming sentiment is that the ongoing health crisis is larger than basketball and action must be taken.
“Our top priority is the health and safety of our players, fans, staff, sponsors and anyone this organization comes in contact with,” Orlando Magic CEO Alex Martins said on Thursday morning. “I would also say our league has incredible leadership in our commissioner, owners and we certainly believe the actions taken last night were the appropriate ones to suspend the season.
“This situation is so much bigger than basketball. This is a public health crisis. It is more important than finances and playing games. We have to ensure that health and safety come first and are taken care of. We believe this is absolutely the right action. All of the experts are saying that in order to slow the virus down and to get it somewhat under control, it is best that large groups of people do not gather together.”
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The NBA has a conference call scheduled on Thursday afternoon with the Board of Governors to discuss how the league will move forward. Teams have been advised to keep their players in town and halt all basketball activities for the time being.
Several teams across the league that recently played the Jazz — the Toronto Raptors, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers — have been instructed to go into self-isolation for 14 days to minimize contact in accordance with public health guidelines.
Martins stated no that Magic player or member of the team’s traveling party has shown symptoms of the coronavirus.
As each team is disappointed in the decision to suspend the regular season, they understand the situation is far bigger than the game of basketball and the league is working toward a resolution.
“We all hear these bits of news come across our phones and on TV and the first thing you think of is the safety of your family and those around you,” Magic president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman said. “For us, it’s our players and our fans. We are all waking up to a somewhat new reality today and we have to first and foremost care about the health and safety of all those around us.”
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