The NBA, and really the world, is in total shock right now as the sudden COVID-19 outbreak has taken over and it has put the world on a pause. The league is in suspension after learning of two players on the Utah Jazz have tested positive for coronavirus.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Josh Richardson first learned of the suspension on his phone after the Sixers knocked off the Detroit Pistons 124-106 at home on Wednesday. Shortly after the buzzer sounded, the announcement came and Richardson was in shock.
He told ESPN:
“We couldn’t believe it,” Richardson said. “Everything became very real, because there’s now people out here who [they] feel like they know. It’s Rudy Gobert. Oh my gosh. It’s Donovan Mitchell. Tom Hanks … and that’s too far. Forrest Gump has it?”
A native of Oklahoma City, Richardson immediately reached out to family members to make sure they were OK.
The Sixers are currently in the middle of a self-quarantine and Richardson described what he did all day on Thursday.
“I was just home with my dog all day [Thursday],” Richardson said. “But everybody is really, really in touch, whether it’s the team group text, talking to trainers or agents.”
This is a tough time for everybody involved. There are a lot of things happening and they’re coming in at seemingly 100mph. There is just no clear answer to what is going to happen and when play can eventually be resumed and that can be a lot for people to handle.
Until then, we wait and we see what the league does next. [lawrence-related id=27600,27574,27557]