NBA responds to New York City mayor's COVID-19 testing criticism

National Basketball Association commissioner am Silver responded on Wednesday to criticism from New York City mayor Bill de Blasio that NBA players should t receive priority for COVID-19 coronavirus testing over more needy patients. De Blasio tweeted his criticism after reports that Brooklyn Nets team h all been tested, saying critically ill patients should have been given priority over millionaire athletes for coveted tests.

Silver said it was t NBA but local health officials last week in Oklahoma City that required Thunder players to get tested immediately after ir ir March 11th game against Utah was cancelled following reports that Jazz center Rudy Gobert, who was t with team, h tested positive for virus.

Thunder all tested negative but NBA n decided to postpone all games as a precaution.

Silver said eight full NBA teams have been tested for coronavirus, which is more than was previously kwn, as well as members of or teams who were showing symptoms.