Sources: NBA will go on 30-day coronavirus hiatus, but it could be longer
The NBA will go on a 30-day hiatus due to the coronavirus, league sources told Yahoo Sports following a call that included all NBA owners and commissioner Adam Silver.
The league suspended play indefinitely Wednesday night after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 before the Jazz-Thunder game, which was postponed. Early Thursday morning, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell was diagnosed with COVID-19 as well — even though he hadn’t shown any symptoms.
One ownership source on the call said it was suggested that every player be tested as soon as possible, because Mitchell’s case could be a harbinger for other positive tests for players who aren’t yet showing symptoms.
The league likely won’t consider re-opening its doors to players, let alone fans, until a 14-day period following the last positive test, sources said. The 14-day period is the guideline for those quarantined from the time of diagnosis.
The suggestion: No matter when it occurs in the league process, if a player tests positive, the league’s 14-day clock to return to business will reset.
Nothing is set in stone, as the owners and Silver are in unknown territory as sports cancellations are occurring across the country and some states are taking matters into their own hands by banning large gatherings.
The United States doesn’t have an adequate amount of tests for its citizens, so it’s impossible to discern if every player on every team, along with coaching staffs, support staff and other personnel, will be tested.
It’s clearly a skeleton plan for what the league hopes it can do given its resources and facing such an unknown present and future.
More from Yahoo Sports:
