Adrian Wojnarowski: The Jazz and Thunder players are currently quarantined in the OKC arena, league sources tell ESPN. This is following Rudy Gobert testing positive for the coronavirus.
More on Coronavirus
Sam Amick: You can safely expect testing/restrictions for the recent teams that played the Jazz: Toronto, Detroit, Boston, New York in the past eight days. The Rudy Gobert ripple effect will be massive.
Mirjam Swanson: Season suspended.
Shams Charania: Utah Jazz All-Star Rudy Gobert has tested positive for coronavirus, sources tell @The Athletic @Stadium. Sources say Gobert is feeling good, strong and stable — and was feeling strong enough to play tonight.
Andy Larsen: They’re now wiping down the Jazz’s bench area.
Will Guillory: Gentry was asked about the Utah-OKC situation. He said the focus is on getting through tonight’s game. David Griffin has been in constant communication with the league. It’s still uncertain what the next steps will look like.
Christian Clark: Alvin Gentry on likelihood of playing games in empty arenas: "I think it’s important to remember that this is not a minor thing by any stretch of the imagination, not just in this country but in the world. You have to contain it and manage it as best you can."
Adrian Wojnarowski: Several teams were willing to put the games on hiatus, but the rest wanted to move toward eliminating fans from arenas to continue playing games, sources tell ESPN. One team wanted to keep status quo until a governmental/public mandate dictated change: The New York Knicks.
The majority of NBA owners are leaning toward a proposal to temporarily play games without fans in the buildings in response to the global concerns surrounding the coronavirus, a person with direct knowledge of the talks said. NBA owners met via teleconference Wednesday and have more talks scheduled Thursday with the intention of finalizing plans so an announcement can be made by the league.
The owners discussed an option to temporarily suspend play of all games, but the idea of playing without fans — and stressing that it would be for the short term — is what received the most support.
Adrian Wojnarowski: New story filed to ESPN: The NBA’s Board of Governors shared a consensus on Wednesday to continue the season playing games without fans in arenas amid the coronavirus crisis, and Commissioner Adam Silver is expected to move in that direction with a decision on Thursday.
Josh Lewenberg: Nurse on the possibility of playing fan-less games: “I don’t think it’s gonna be much fun, but if the games need to keep ticking over to keep the schedule moving along or whatever, we’ll certainly go out there and approach it from a professional standpoint and do the best we can”
Josh Lewenberg: Nick Nurse on the coronavirus threat: “I really really trust the leadership at the top of the NBA and know they’re on top of it... I fully support whatever they tell us to do. Let’s help the solution and get it taken care of as quickly as we can.”
Adrian Wojnarowski: Reporting with @Zach Lowe: Consensus among owners on Board of Governors call with league office was either continue season with no fans in arenas -- or have NBA take a hiatus for a period time. NBA is expected to have a decision as soon as Thursday on next steps.
Today, the Sacramento Kings released the following statement regarding the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation: “After consultation with Sacramento County Public Health officials, tonight’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans at Golden 1 Center will proceed as usual with fans. With regards to future Golden 1 Center events, we continue to monitor the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation closely and will follow the mandated guidelines of the NBA, CDC, medical experts and government officials.”
Dwain Price: A light-hearted moment happened when I asked #Mavs G Delon Wright if he's upset reporters will no longer be in the locker room. Wright said: "Ya'll don't talk to me anyway." @Dallas Mavericks
Michael Singer: Michael Malone re. rapidly changing protocol due to virus: “I don’t know what tomorrow brings.” Said he expects more bizarre components to final 18 games.
Marc Berman: Atlanta coach Lloyd Pierce: "It’s human nature waiting to see what’s next. Last few days, "next" has been three hours later. We know the NBA is meeting. We know NCAA is shutting down (fans from) their games. Who knows what happens after our game tonight?’’
Jeremy Woo: At least a third of NBA teams have now pulled scouts from the road due to coronavirus concerns, per league sources. Some teams have made travel optional, while others remain at conference tournaments. There's a growing sense the predraft process could be majorly impacted.
Rod Boone: James Borrego also said it looks like things are going in the direction playing games without fans in Charlotte. No decision has been made yet, but the signs a uthll around the league are there.
Chris Mannix: USA Basketball Managing Director Jerry Colangelo tells @SInow that USA Basketball operations are proceeding normally. No withdrawals by players concerned about #coronavirus -- yet -- and there has been no communication about postponing or canceling the Games.
Chris Mannix: Colangelo, like most, is anxious to see how everything plays out. But he tells @SInow that it's "all systems go" at USAB, with plans in place to have a team selected in early June.
Jeff Goodman: NCAA source to me: “Things are moving quickly. Right now, it’s no fans. But we don’t know where this is headed. There have been discussions about canceling or postponing the NCAA Tournament, but we’re hoping it doesn’t get to that point.”
Ben Golliver: Ice Cube's "Big 3" professional basketball league has announced that, for six weeks this summer, games will be moved to an "intimate, safe, controlled non-arena venue in LA" rather than be held in previously announced cities around the country.
Melissa Rohlin: AD on potentially playing w/o fans: "‘If you have a big play, it’s going to be quiet. Nobody is there to celebrate that play with you. There could possibly be a lot more techs because you can hear what players are saying now. The refs can hear clearly. It will be different."
Tom Moore: #Pistons coach Dwane Casey: ‘It’s unprecedented. ... I know the league is taking it very serious.’
Kyle Neubeck: Pistons coach Dwane Casey on what he might do differently if the NBA played games in empty arenas. “Probably cuss less.”
Greg Logan: Here’s good news. I’m told print media will cover #Nets at #Warriors. #KevinDurant is staying in LA and will rejoin team Friday vs #Clippers. Otherwise, it’s glorious day in SF. Passed bar in terminal where sound system was playing pianist Horace Silver and “Song for My Father.”
Mark Medina: Dwight Howard missed Tuesday’s game vs Brooklyn because of a stomach bug that Frank Vogel said is NOT related to the coronavirus. He’s back at practice today
Sam Amick: Meanwhile, I'm told the Kings-Pelicans game in Sacramento tonight (that I'll be attending) will still involve fans. As a relevant sidenote, I originally planned weeks ago on bringing my family out to see Zion in person. Those plans have most assuredly changed.
Mark Medina: The Lakers’ G-League team has a game tonight at the team’s practice facility vs the Austin Spurs. As of now, the game will be open to fans but situation is fluid because of coronavirus concerns.
Jeff Goodman: I’ve been told that the NCAA still hasn’t determined whether media will be allowed at the NCAA Tournament.
Sources say the league is still considering more sensible options as well, among them the prospect of pushing its entire calendar back. The NBA has been asking teams to provide its arena schedule through July, which is as clear a sign as any that the notion of putting everything on hold for a while so the authorities can attempt to contain the virus remains in play. If nothing else, it’s a good sign that the focus is moving away from half-measures to full ones – dollars be damned.
This reported idea of relocating games to places that haven’t been impacted by the virus is just absurd, in large part because of the optics. Nothing says being tone-deaf like taking your employees from a place that is impacted to a place that’s safe because, well, there is work to be done.
In a meeting with the National Basketball Players Association on the coronavirus crisis Wednesday, the NBA and union discussed ways to continue the season without the cancellation or loss of games -- while conceding the sport was trending toward a period of time without fans in attendance at arenas, sources told ESPN.
The NBA is exploring solutions to allow them to continue playing and televising games during the coronavirus crisis, even with it increasingly likely that the league will do so in empty arenas, sources said. The NBA is bracing for the losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars across the sport, sources said.
David Aldridge: Mayor Bowser says she can order events in D.C. to be closed that exceed the 1,000-person limit that was "recommended" to be cancelled or postponed earlier Wednesday, and that the District can "pull the permits" of large gatherings that don’t voluntary delay through March 31.
Shams Charania: The NCAA's men's and women's tournaments will be held without fans -- and only essential staff and limited family attendance.
Connor Letourneau: Per the Warriors, Kevin Durant no longer plans to attend tomorrow's game at Chase Center.
Amid coronavirus fears, the Orlando Magic will take extra precautions but still plan to play two home games with fans in attendance this week. NBA leadership met Wednesday to discuss response to the new coronavirus, officially known as COVID-19, that was listed as a pandemic by the World Health Organization.
The Magic announced fans can expect to see prominent signs highlighting healthy habits, including hand washing, when they arrive at Amway Center Thursday. Fans also can find hand sanitizer stations throughout the arena. And the franchise has implement a policy of deep cleaning in high traffic areas of the building with disinfectant, including at point of purchase devices, door handles, elevator buttons, escalator handrails and restrooms. “We are getting daily communication from the NBA and have established an internal task force to address any directives,” the Magic statement read.
Scott Agness: The Pacers’ advance scout is no longer traveling due to coronavirus, @TheAthleticIND has learned. He’s on the road more than anyone, 200+ days each year.
Adrian Wojnarowski: Story filed to ESPN with @Zach Lowe: In a meeting with the NBPA on the coronavirus crisis today, NBA and union discussed ways to continue the season without the cancellation or loss of games --- while conceding sport's trending toward period of time without fans in attendance.
Connor Letourneau: Steve Kerr: "We have to limit our interactions with big crowds. ... We're trying to do all of that in the learning and going about our day. There's no question now that everybody's lives will be affected by this."
Nick Friedell: Kerr: “No matter what you do, who you are, your daily life is going to be affected by this.” Kerr says he is thinking about all the part-time workers who won’t be able to still earn a paycheck during this time.
Wes Goldberg: Steve Kerr put a copy of an article at every player's locker with instructions on how to stay safe, including things like wiping down the remote control in hotel rooms. "It's one of the dirtiest items out there."
Nick Friedell: Steph on playing without fans tomorrow in San Francisco. “It will be different. It will be weird.” Says players have been educated on the virus and what precautions to take moving forward. “We have jobs to do. As long as there are games to be played, we’re going to play them.”
Tim Bontemps: Giannis on playing with no fans: "It’s going to be hard. As an athlete, you play for the fans ... we are out there to win games, but we are out there to entertain. When you have a momentum swing, when you have a dunk & a 3, & there is silence … it takes a lot out of your energy"
Keith Pompey: According to multiple sources, the #Sixers have cancelled advance scouting due to the coronavirus. No one can deny that this team is serious about protecting its employees from the virus.
Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that major sports leagues, including the National Basketball Association, owe their fans more consideration related to coronavirus. He made the remarks during a news conference in the Capitol building, blocks from the downtown arena where the Kings basketball team is scheduled to host three home games over the next week.
“I found it quite curious that the four major organizations NHL, soccer, MLB and the NBA put out guidelines to protect their athletes but not their fans,” Newsom told reporters at the news conference. “I think they owe you and their fanbase an answer as to why is it more important to keep you as reporters away from their players in the locker room than keeping fans in highly contagious parts of the country together.”
Kerith Burke: Bob Myers said, “This is the start.” There’s a 30 team NBA conference call this afternoon. What’s happening in San Francisco will be examined deeply.
Nick Friedell: Myers acknowledged that up to this point players haven’t voiced a concern about not playing moving forward — but admits that players and team officials are still processing the issue. They will be open to more conversations if players voice more concerns.
Wes Goldberg: Bob Myers said everything in regards to the in-arena experience is TBD. Players may still want music playing for warmups, a PA announcer to explain calls could still be involved. Broadcast and radio crews will also attend. "But no T-shirts being launched anywhere."
Wes Goldberg: Rick Welts says that this will cost the Warriors "tens of millions of dollars." Because it impacts basketball-related income, both Welts and Bob Myers acknowledged this will also affect next season's salary cap.
Kerith Burke: Bob Myers says, “Health is the first priority in life...it’s bigger than the Warriors.”
Marc Stein: The Warriors have just issued their official statement confirming that Thursday night's game at Chase Center against Brooklyn will be played with no fans admitted ... pic.twitter.com/dUGzcy9GQy
Shams Charania: NBA spokesman Mike Bass statement with latest on coronavirus situation. pic.twitter.com/3USSG0SdbC
Wes Goldberg: The Santa Cruz Warriors will also play tomorrow night’s game against the Oklahoma City Blue without fans, the team announced.
Dan Gelston: 76ers team official statement on fans with tickets to tonight's game: "We will manage on a case-by-case basis and work closely with our fans toward finding another game for them to attend in the future." 76ers will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation.
Logan Murdock: Press release from San Francisco mayor London Breed on the banning of events larger than 1,000 people, including Warriors games: “Today I spoke with the Warriors to discuss the steps were taking to cancel large events and they are in support of our efforts.” pic.twitter.com/60VE3an23m
Michael Singer: Michael Malone, on today’s “new norms” where interviews conducted from 6-8 feet away. “This is, I wouldn’t say absurd. Maybe it’s necessary and precautionary.”
Salman Ali: Wow, here's Dr. Fauci's response in the congressional testimony to how the NBA should handle coronavirus: "We would recommend that there not be large crowds. If that means there won't be any people in the audience, so be it."
As the NBA's board of governors prepares to confer with the commissioner's office Wednesday in a critical conference call on the coronavirus crisis, one scenario introduced into the league's conversation involves moving some games to NBA cities that have yet to suffer outbreaks, league sources told ESPN. If the virus clusters and forces a team out of its city and arena for a period of time, there has been discussion about moving games to the away opponent's arena if that city hasn't suffered an outbreak -- or even moving games to neutral cities and sites, league sources told ESPN.
Marc Stein: The NBA has scheduled a conference call Thursday for the league's 30 GMs to discuss the latest on the Coronavirus Crisis, league sources tell @NYTSports -- but first up is Wednesday's conference call for NBA team owners
The NBA is discussing a number of possibilities -- including eliminating fans from buildings for games or, more drastically, suspending game operations for a period of time -- but sources said decisions on those options remain complicated by the fact that there has been a limited amount of public testing for the coronavirus in the United States. There is no full understanding of how widespread and debilitating the virus could become in the country.
