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NBA Season Postponed for Coronavirus

By Seth Kimbrell

SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: The game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings was postponed because of the corona virus at Golden 1 Center on March 11, 2020 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 11: The game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings was postponed because of the corona virus at Golden 1 Center on March 11, 2020 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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On Wednesday night, Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, or Coronavirus, leading Adam Silver to suspend the NBA season.

After some time of speculation about the path the NBA would take – would they play in empty arenas? Play in non-infected cities? – the choice was made for them just before the start of Wednesday’s Thunder vs. Jazz game. Wednesday’s games will be the last on the schedule for the foreseeable future. The LA Clippers’ next game was scheduled for Friday.

Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who recently made news by deliberately touching every microphone and recorder at a press conference, apparently mocking the Coronavirus scare, was diagnosed with COVID-19 just before tipoff.

It was reported via Royce Young that, just moments before tipoff, the Thunder’s Medical head came sprinting onto the court and the game was delayed. The on-court entertainment (mascots dancing, T-shirt cannons being fired) continued as the PA announcer reassured the crowd that everybody was safe.

Players were strictly kept separated, including Chris Paul, who rushed over to ask about Gobert before being pushed away, per Royce Young. Ultimately, the players would be ushered back into the locker rooms and it was announced that the game would be postponed until further notice.

At the time of this writing, players are still being kept quarantined inside the locker rooms as officials put their heads together to figure out what the next steps are.

One next step came down the chain quickly. Just over an hour after the Thunder vs. Jazz game was delayed due to Gobert’s sickness, word came from Shams Charania that the NBA season had been suspended.

It is uncertain at this time the length of the suspension or, really, any details whatsoever. There will be many knots to work out, including arena schedules and the logistics behind resuming the season later than expected.

Those concerns are on the back burner for most people right now, however. The first step forward will be the testing of players that have been in contact with Rudy Gobert. This is also currently ongoing, at the time of this writing.

Next. Kawhi Leonard offers thoughts on coronavirus. dark

Keep following Clipperholics on social media for NBA-specific updates. For all other updates on the Coronavirus and safe protocols, follow organizations like the World Health Organization and continue to practice safety measures.