Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world.
On Wednesday night the NBA made the shocking decision to suspend its season indefinitely after a player tested positive for the coronavirus.
The decision came moments after it was announced that a game between the Jazz and the Thunder would be postponed, and it appeared to be that quick — video showed Mavericks owner Mark Cuban getting the news in real time while watching his team play.
How long will this last? Why was the decision made? Where do we go from here? Let’s lay out everything we know as of Thursday morning.
What happened on Wednesday night?
On Wednesday night, news broke just moments before the Jazz were scheduled to play the Thunder that the game was being postponed. Players, who had been out for warmups, were ordered back to the locker rooms and fans were instructed to leave the stadium.
Moments later, the NBA announced that it was suspending its season indefinitely after a player on the Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19, a strain of the coronavirus.
Do we know who the player is?
The league did not say in its statement, but Shams Charania of the Athletic reported it was Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who had been listed on the injury report as having an illness. Other reporters soon said they had sources which backed up Charania’s reporting.
Isn’t that the guy who jokingly rubbed his hands all over reporters’ microphones?
Yes. In one of the horrible moments of this whole thing, Gobert had indeed a few days ago rubbed his hands all over reporters’ microphones. It was a joke meant to poke fun at what Gobert perceived as hysteria regarding the disease and its spread.
It now appears that Gobert himself has the virus.
Is Gobert OK?
By all accounts, his symptoms are not too severe. According to Charania, Gobert actually wanted to play on Wednesday night before the test, taken as a precaution, came back positive.
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
Evan Fournier also said that he spoke with Gobert, who was “doing good.”
Was just on the phone with Rudy. He is doing good man. Lets not panick everyone. Love you all❤️
— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) March 12, 2020
Is the season over?
No. The season has been suspended indefinitely — it has not been canceled. The NBA will assess the situation and speak with experts and governing bodies, it says, before making any larger decisions.
How many other players came in contact with Gobert?
Unclear, as we aren’t sure when he contracted the disease. But as a terrifying chart shows, it’s possible to link all 30 NBA teams to the Jazz just within the last week.
Why not just play the games in empty arenas?
It sure seemed like the NBA was heading toward what the NCAA has decided to do with March Madness, and play games in front of empty arenas. After a player tested positive for the disease, however, the league apparently put the players’ health first and decided to suspend the league to try and limit the spread that way.
Did the league consult with owners before making the decision?
It appears not. Mavericks owner Mark Cuban found out sitting courtside, and when he was interviewed by ESPN moments later, he made clear that he was just finding out, though he supported commissioner Adam Silver’s decision.
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