The 2019-2020 NBA Season Suspended Due to Coronavirus
A Utah Jazz player tested positive for coronavirus, COVID-19.
The 2019-2020 NBA season suspended officially after Rudy Gobert, center for Utah Jazz tested positive for COVID-19, more commonly known as the novel coronavirus. Adrian Wojnarowski, ESPN Senior NBA Insider, initially broke the news via Twitter and was shortly followed by an official statement from the NBA league:
“The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19. The test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of tonight’s game between the Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. At that time, tonight’s game was canceled. The affected player was not in the arena.
The NBA is suspending gameplay following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice. The NBA will use this hiatus to determine the next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”
Royce Young, ESPN NBA writer, previously reported that the Oklahoma City Thunder and Jazz players were sent back to their locker rooms after their supposed game was called off seconds before tip-off at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
With the NBA season suspended, Vince Carter’s final career game could possibly have been marked. Vinsanity who suited up for his team, Atlanta Hawks, with only 19.5 seconds left on the clock. The game was closed with a three-pointer from eight-time NBA All-star and, even though losing to the New York Knicks 131-136, teammates and opponents all celebrated.
NBA Playoffs were only a month away and had hyped fans expecting exciting matchups going into the Finals, including the appearance of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks, the return of LeBron James and the Lakers and possibly Zion Williamson‘s first Playoffs season with the Pelicans. This year’s NBA Playoffs was also supposed to mark the first absence of Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors in seven years as they rank at the very bottom with a 15-50 record of the Western Conference standings.
NBA To Suspend Season Following Tonight's Games pic.twitter.com/2PTx2fkLlW
— NBA (@NBA) March 12, 2020
On Monday, Rudy Gobert made a point of touching all the microphones and recorders at his media availability. Tonight, he tested positive for COVID-19.
(🎥: @DanWeiner)
https://t.co/6E01kHcXuF— theScore (@theScore) March 12, 2020
Vince Carter with his last basket against the Knicks and possibly of his career.
Vinsanity will be missed ✊ pic.twitter.com/JnzRsJGZWa
— NEW YORK KNICKS ON MSG (@KnicksMSGN) March 12, 2020
