NBA Suspends Season Following Utah Jazz Players’ COVID-19 Positive Test
Mar 11, 2020, 7:43 PM | Updated: 8:02 pm
Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Rudy Gobert #27 talk against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on January 06, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The NBA has suspended the 2019-20 season due to coronavirus concerns after a Utah Jazz player “preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19.”
The league released a statement saying that it “is suspending play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice. The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”
Breaking News: The NBA has suspended the season. Details below pic.twitter.com/6lAcBT0VQV
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) March 12, 2020
The league’s suspension of play came shortly after it postponed a game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday, March 11.
Seconds before starting the game between Utah and OKC, NBA officials brought Jazz head coach Quin Snyder and Thunder head coach Billy Donovan together at mid-court for a discussion. After the conversation, both teams exited the court.
A minute later, the officiating crew also left the hardwood.
Shortly before the game was scheduled to begin, the Jazz ruled starting center Rudy Gobert out of the lineup with an undisclosed illness.
Rudy & Emmanuel have both been ruled out (illness) for tonight's game.
— Utah Jazz (@utahjazz) March 11, 2020
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