Published 09:28 IST, March 13th 2020

NBA season could be over, says Adam Silver after two players test positive for coronavirus

NBA commissioner Adam Silver appeared on Inside the NBA on Thursday to discuss the league's decision to suspend games due to coronavirus outbreak. Read on.

Reported by: Sujay Chakraborty
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NBA commissioner Adam Silver appeared on Inside NBA with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith and Shaquille O’Neal on Thursday to discuss league's decision to suspend games over concerns of coronavirus outbreak. Silver refrained from making an early judgement on situation but admitted hiatus could last for at least '30 days'.

Also Read | NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Discusses Possibility Of League In India

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NBA season cancelled after Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19

Wednesday night's (Thursday IST) game between Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz was suspended after Jazz center Rudy Gobert was tested positive for coronavirus. NBA subsequently suspended all games with fears of a furr outbreak in country. Adam Silver explained decision to immediately suspend league stating it was important to ensure that everyone in NBA community was safe and healthy. 

Sliver furr added that situation with outbreak is changing constantly and officials are biding ir time before making a decision if and when 2019-20 NBA season will resume. 

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Also Read | NBA Commissioner Adam Silver: NBA, USA Basketball Still May Play In China In 2020

NBA suspended: Adam Silver talks if 'NBA season cancelled'

Adam Silver also addressed possibility of current season being cancelled stating 'it is too early to make a call'. However, Silver furr added, “Of course it’s possible. I just don’t kw more at this point. re’s ar factor that may go to seasonality of this virus. We’ve talked to a lot of experts and some have a ory that it’s, as with common flu as wear changes, we may begin to see it peter out a little bit. Again, we don’t kw.”

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Fellow NBA analyst on Inside NBA, Charles Barkley was present on show via phone. Barkley ted that he has been tested for COVID-19 and is in self-isolation for 48 hours. Barkley furr added that he is still awaiting test results. 

NBA suspended: Adam Silver addresses NBA coronavirus issue

NBA season cancelled: Or teams fretting over outbreak

After Rudy Gobert was tested positive,  entire Jazz roster was tested for coronavirus. Gobert's teammate Dovan Mitchell was only player who tested positive in Jazz squad. However, this past week Gobert reportedly interacted with over 30 players, most tably with players from Toronto Raptors, who Jazz faced on Monday night (Tuesday IST). It is reported that Raptors and Thunder have both put ir players into self-quarantine for a period of 14 days. 

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Also Read | NBA Commissioner Adam Silver Holds State Of League News Conference

With league in an unfamiliar lockdown, NBA has reportedly put in place several protocols for 30 NBA teams. Some of protocols are mentioned here:

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09:28 IST, March 13th 2020