Brad Turner: Sources: Lakers players came away from conference call with GM Rob Pelinka, Coach Frank Vogel that NBA owners want to finish regular and postseason, even if goes to late June, July or August.
More on Coronavirus
Brad Turner: Lakers players had conference call with GM Rob Pelinka, Coach Frank Vogel to update on NBA rules during shutdown for coronavirus: no group workouts, only 1-on-1 workout with assistant coach or strength coach. Players can put time in they want to workout. Another call Monday.
Jeff Goodman: Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder had multiple meetings with the players about the seriousness of Coronavirus, source told @Stadium. Also had a doctor come in and talk to the team separately.
Sarah K. Spencer: No Hawks players have exhibited any signs of coronavirus, as of now. The league has not asked the Hawks to self-quarantine or get tested for coronavirus, since they have not played the Jazz.
Tim Reynolds: Charles Barkley announces that he is self-quarantining for 48 hours. He has been tested for COVID-19 and has not gotten results back. "I'm in limbo right now," Barkley said on TNT just now.
Zach Lowe: E-sports, too: the NBA 2K League is expected to announce tonight that it is postponing the start of its season, which had been scheduled to begin on March 24. The league and 2K are working closely to see if it is possible to play games remotely, source says.
Marc Stein: The NBA has notified its teams that all players are advised to stay in their home markets, remain home as much as possible and that teams are not allowed to hold group practices, meetings or workouts through at least March 16
Marc Stein: The NBA, league sources say, has also asked team doctors and athletic trainers to check in at least once a day with players on their health status and use a "one player, one coach, one basket" rule if multiple players are working out at the same time in team practice facilities
Shams Charania: The NBA has informed all 30 teams on policies effective immediately and through March 16, including: - All players must remain in market of team - Players remain home as long as possible - NO group workouts, practices - Team physicians/trainers speak to each player once a day
Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker just announced that he's asked the owners of all Illinois-based sport franchises to cancel or postpone live events through at least May 1. Added that all the owners agreed to comply.
An NBA player who on Wednesday tested positive for the novel coronavirus was seen five days earlier handing his game-worn arm sleeves to young fans at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit. Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested presumptive positive for COVID-19 before Wednesday's game against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
In a video posted to the message board website Reddit, Gobert can be seen removing his arm sleeves after the Jazz's 111-105 victory. He hands one of them to a child as he exits the court, then hands the other arm sleeve to another child as he heads into the tunnel. In a video posted to the message board website Reddit, Gobert can be seen removing his arm sleeves after the Jazz's 111-105 victory. He hands one of them to a child as he exits the court, then hands the other arm sleeve to another child as he heads into the tunnel.
Sarah Todd: I am very happy to be home. Really huge thanks to @SpencerJCox and the state of Utah for working with the @Utah Jazz to get me back to SLC. The support of everyone has been really wonderful. Now it’s time for a nap.
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 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.
Joe Cowley: Was told that Boylen has actually been very vocal in a leadership capacity in making sure the team and travelling party were kept updated with what was going on in leaving Orlando. Went beyond what was asked of a coach in a situation like this. If it matters ...
Tim Bontemps: Really cool gesture by Kevin Love to donate $100k from the Kevin Love Fund to support the arena and Cavs support staff because of the suspension of the NBA due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
Tim Bontemps: Meanwhile, on the basketball side of things, both the Jordan Brand Classic and the McDonald's All-American Game have been canceled. If Nike Hoop Summit hasn't already, seems inevitable that will be, too. In addition to the NBA season being disrupted, draft process will be, too.
Emmanuel Mudiay: Firstly, thanks to everyone for the positive words. Yesterday I got tested for the Covid-19 virus. By God’s grace it came out negative. Despite my teammates and I taking necessary precautions, it didn’t turn out as expected. To my guys @Donovan Mitchell @Rudy Gobert, God speed🙏🏾❤️
Jordan Clarkson: Thank you for all the love and prayers sent my way! I have been tested and i am good, wild 24 hrs glad i am healthy! Keeping my teammates @Donovan Mitchell & @Rudy Gobert in my heart as they get better going through this process! Love ✌🏽💜
Georges Niang: After a crazy 24 hours I am healthy, I am home safe, my tests came back negative! thank you all for the love and support! Let’s continue to make our environment safe with the knowledge that we have and keep supporting and sending love to our guys @Donovan Mitchell and @Rudy Gobert
Candace Buckner: Though under self-quarantine no #Wizards player has been tested for the novel coronavirus today, I'm told. Players, coaches and basketball ops staffers are to report flu-like symptoms to team doc immediately and per the team's statement earlier today, then they will be tested
Rod Beard: I'm told that all #Pistons employees, including hourly and part-time staff who support game-day activities at Little Caesars Arena, will be paid during period that NBA games are suspended. This may not apply to employees who work for other companies in LCA.
The Jordan Brand Classic, Nike’s premier high-school all-American game, announced cancellations of both the boys’ and girls’ games, set to tipoff March 27. “As we continue to navigate through the coronavirus (COVID-19) situation, we are cancelling this year’s Jordan Brand Classic planned for March 27,” Jordan Brand said in a news release.
Chris Forsberg: Maine Red Claws, G-League affiliate of the Celtics, release a statement saying no players or fans were put at risk for coronavirus while Vincent Poirier and Carsen Edwards were on assignment in Maine last week.
Eric Woodyard: Courtney Kirkland has been tested for #coronavirus today, a source confirmed. He may have to wait up to 4 days to receive the results, but is isolating himself from family and others until he gets the results. Kirkland was one of the officials for Utah-Toronto game in SLC Monday.
Royce O'Neale: Appreciate all the love and support. I’m good and okay. Everybody make sure you stay safe and take care of yourself 🙏🏾 We here for you guy @Donovan Mitchell and @Rudy Gobert healthy recovery for you guys 🤙🏾🤙🏾
Harry Giles: Sorry all the Kings fan who came out last night to support and had to find out the news so close to game time! That appreciation never goes unnoticed. Just an unfortunate time and bigger issue that need to be handled. Hopefully this ends soon #SacramentoProud
Eric Woodyard: After the NBA suspended the season last night, Fiserv Forum workers in Milwaukee received an email saying:”If you were on the schedule for tomorrow's game, you will be paid a guaranteed 3-hour minimum given this announcement is going out less than 24 hours before your call time.”
Adam Johnson: The NBA is continuing further discussions with @nbagleague teams before ultimately canceling the season according to a source. Some teams were against cancellation.
Tom Moore: #Sixers source: 'Team is temporarily self-quarantining players, coaches and select support staff. … (They're) organizing for #76ers players to get coronavirus testing as well as testing for support staff who came in close contact or exhibit symptoms."
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio declared a state of emergency in the city on Thursday, saying large venues like Barclays Center and Madison Square Garden will likely be closed for months to try to contain the fast-spreading coronavirus outbreak.
Stefan Bondy: Statement from MSG: “We support Governor Cuomo’s decision and starting tomorrow night, our New York venues will only host events that adhere to the Governor’s very clear parameters. This is a fluid situation and we will be back with further details when available.”
Chris Kirschner: Hawks owner Tony Ressler is joining Mark Cuban in making sure the arena’s hourly employees will continue to have income. Ressler: “We are indeed and feel strongly it’s both the right thing to do and good business.”
The Portland Trail Blazers are asking season ticket holders and other fans with tickets for “patience” as they “navigate ... uncharted waters" in the aftermath of the NBA’s decision to suspend the regular season because of concerns over coronavirus. In an email sent to season ticket holders late Wednesday night, the team said it was working with the NBA to grasp the scope of the suspension and how it would impact the rest of the season.
Indications were the players have not yet been tested for the coronavirus at the hotel because they are asymptomatic. The Knicks played the Utah Jazz last week. The Jazz have two infected players, their two stars, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell.
Late Wednesday, Knicks veteran Wayne Ellington said at the Capital One Arena the team’s medical director, Dr. Lisa Callahan has given them encouraging words. “You think about it, but at the same time, Dr. Callahan notified us as long as you’re not feeling symptoms, what comes with it, you’re fine,” Ellington said. “Otherwise, we’ll take the necessary orders. Everybody is OK.”
Stefan Bondy: Mayor DiBlasio said Madison Square Garden will likely be closed for months. Don't see how the NBA can play again this season. Maybe a truncated postseason.
KC Johnson: No member of Bulls traveling party is symptomatic, per sources. All have been given specific instruction where to go for testing if any symptoms develop. Organization will follow league directives moving forward.
Jusuf Nurkic: It is what it is. It was what it was. It will be what it will be. Don’t stress it Wash your hands and be safe people ✊🏻 #GodPlan
Vincent Goodwill: Source to @YahooSports: NBA Owner call just ended. 30 day shutdown then everything will be re-assessed. Some suggested every player will be tested for COVID-19 in the meantime
Adrian Wojnarowski: NBA owners are encouraging of commissioner Adam Silver to re-evaluate the league's suspension in 30 days, sources tell ESPN. League is expected to make a formal announcement on an initial timetable soon.
Eric Walden: Rudy Gobert addresses his diagnosis: “I would like to publicly apologize to the people that I may have endangered. At the time, I had no idea I was even infected. I was careless and make no excuse. I hope my story serves as a warning and causes everyone to take this seriously.”
The coronavirus outbreak spurring the NBA to suspend the pro basketball season indefinitely could mean bad news on top of already bad news for sporting goods companies such as Nike. “COVID-19 is impacting Nike’s business inside and outside of China more than we initially anticipated,” Susquehanna analyst Sam Poser said in a note to clients Thursday morning. “On top of which, the cancellation of the NBA season until further notice, announced last night, does little to assuage near term nerves.”
In the interim, Nike’s businesses in China, Europe and even in the U.S. are expected to take a hit, as the virus remains uncontained. U.S. footwear imports from China just had their worst January in a decade, for example, meaning shoes are not coming into the U.S. in as large quantities as they typically do. Manufacturing facilities in China, where 70% of footwear sold in the U.S. originates, are not yet back up and running at full capacity.
Adidas is now expecting first-quarter sales to drop by up to 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion) in greater China and operating profit to decline by between 400 million and 500 million euros. It has not yet factored a global hit from COVID-19 into its full-year outlook. Under Armour, meantime, in February said it anticipated the outbreak in China to lower sales by roughly $50 million to $60 million during its fiscal first quarter. That was, notably, before the virus started to hit Europe and North America much harder.
George Karl: It’s an eerie time. It reminds me of similar moments of crisis- 9/11, the Cuban Missle Crisis and the end of the Vietnam War eg. This, too, shall pass. And it could be a chance to help us reunify!
There were no plans for Nuggets players to be tested for COVID-19 as of Thursday morning, according to the source, after the team traveled home from Dallas late Wednesday night. The Nuggets have tests available should the need arise.
Charlotte Hornets center and players union vice president Bismack Biyombo said the news — that Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for the coronoavirus — made this suspension of the season unavoidable. “We’re around each other so much; if one guy has it, God knows how fast that can spread around,” Biyombo said after the Hornets’ 109-98 victory over the Miami Heat. “We play with the same ball, we sweat and we touch each other.”
Will players stay in Charlotte, with no indication whether any of the Hornets’ remaining 17 games will be played? “The first thing is to stay calm and gather some more information,” said Borrego, whose team is 23-42, seven games out of a playoff spot. “The next 24 hours, we’ll figure out with the guys. Let’s get home tonight, let’s be safe tonight. Then, figure things out over the next few days.”
Jon Johnson: Wells Fargo Center is closing it’s door for rest of March. #Sixers #Flyers
Barry Jackson: For those wondering how networks that air sports will fill the time, ESPN has expanded SportsCenter tonight. TNT, instead of NBA double-header, will have a 60-minute Inside the NBA with Ernie, Charles& Co. at 8 tonight, then this year's All Star game and Dec. 19 Lakers-Bucks game
In light of the NBA season being suspended and out of an abundance of caution, the Orlando Magic have made the decision to postpone the Orlando Wine Festival & Auction, which was scheduled for Fri., March 13 and Sat., March 14.
Jaren Jackson Jr.: Pray for Spida🙏🏾🙏🏾
Barry Jackson: Heat postponed its annual Family Fest event on March 21.
Tim Bontemps: The Celtics saying their travel party will be self quarantined through the weekend, and that all players will be tested during that time period. Also say that the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said it’s unlikely they contracted COVID-19 from Gobert or Mitchell. pic.twitter.com/2Xgi0m5HnB
Enes Kanter: Prayers up for my brother Donovan Mitchell. Hoping for a quick and safe recovery.
Donovan Mitchell: Thanks to everyone who has been reaching out since hearing the news about my positive test. We are all learning more about the seriousness of this situation and hopefully people can continue to educate themselves and realize that they need to behave responsibly both for their own health and for the well being of those around them.
Marco Belinelli: pic.twitter.com/Gse43DigzQ
Adrian Wojnarowski: The NBA has pushed back a Board of Governors call today by three hours -- now set to start at 3:30 PM ET, sources tell ESPN.
Tom Orsborn: #Spurs CEO R.C. Buford just released a statement that says, in part, "The health and well-being of our fans, partners, staff, and players will always be our number one priority. All of us at Spurs Sports & Entertainment fully support the NBA’s decision to suspend the season."
Kevin Porter: Not my brutha d Mitch!!! 🤬
Spencer Dinwiddie: Gotta take care of the non salary arena staff etc
