The NBA suspended its season indefinitely Wednesday after a Utah Jazz player preliminarily tested positive for coronavirus, the league announced.
Multiple reports said Jazz center Rudy Gobert is the player who contracted the virus. Wednesday’s game between the Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder was abruptly halted prior to tip-off, and it was soon announced the game would be postponed.
Gobert, a two-time defensive player of the year, was already ruled out for Wednesday’s game with an illness. Days ago, he jokingly touched every microphone and cell phone in front of him after the league announced changes to its media policy due to the spread of coronavirus.
In a statement, the NBA said Gobert was not at the arena for Utah’s game against the Thunder.
“The NBA is suspending gameplay following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice,” the league said a statement. “The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in the coronavirus pandemic.”
Gobert is the first known pro athlete in the U.S. to have contracted the disease. Actor Tom Hanks also announced Wednesday he had tested positive for coronavirus.
The NBA has suspended the season in the wake of the Coronavirus Crisis. Its official statement: pic.twitter.com/x3X6pddmSq
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 12, 2020
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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