Sports world in shock as NBA suspends its season after Rudy Gobert tests positive for coronavirus
The global threat of coronavirus got a lot more real for the sports world on Wednesday when Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, which subsequently led to the NBA suspending its entire season.
The move is unprecedented yet also warranted as the highly infectious disease keeps spreading and threatening lives. Still, the majority of sports fans, media and players were caught off guard by a moment that will define the league and everything around it.
Sports world reacts to NBA suspending season over coronavirus
Holy..... https://t.co/ne7kMHWVGX
— Kristie Ackert (@ByKristieAckert) March 12, 2020
Sport is supposed to be an escape from real life ... but 2020 apparently has a previously unseen capacity to defy that notion
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) March 12, 2020
It’s surreal to be in an NBA arena while a game goes on as usual after the announcement that the season has been suspended.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) March 12, 2020
The NBA needs to make clear quickly how long Rudy Gobert has been feeling sick. The Jazz just had a road trip.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) March 12, 2020
Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19.
Incubation period for the virus is believed by scientists to be one to 14 days.
Gobert plays for the Utah Jazz. The Jazz played the Wizards 12 days ago. They have also played 5 other teams since then. https://t.co/rGyMXaI1pN— Alex Flum (@WHSV_Alex) March 12, 2020
The Jazz are coming off a 4-game East coast road trip and I can't help but wonder at what point did Rudy Gobert get coronavirus? Who else did he come in contact with? This is just crazy. pic.twitter.com/HvRrREn159
— Tomer Azarly (@TomerAzarly) March 12, 2020
I’m Speechless. https://t.co/2A3wX2zKyu
— Safid Deen 💯💯💯💯 (@Safid_Deen) March 12, 2020
Officially the craziest day in sports of my lifetime. There are still three hours left, too. 😫
— Jenny Dial Creech (@jennydialcreech) March 12, 2020
There was no way to reasonably think the league could go on without a hitch playing in empty arenas. A player, coach, official or media member the virus it was inevitable. The NBA was forced into the right decision.
— Logan Murdock (@loganmmurdock) March 12, 2020
This is unraveling so freaking quickly.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) March 12, 2020
I'm starting to think the NFL should delay free agency for a month, and then reassess. Also, if as it appears the draft isn't going to happen in a public venue, it can be delayed, too. Ditto for the offseason program.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 12, 2020
A night like no other in history. #NBA
— Andrew Brandt (@AndrewBrandt) March 12, 2020
It's one thing when you hear "X" amount of people have tested positive. It's a totally different thing (at least, for me) when it's someone that you know of, even if you don't know them personally. Scary times...stay safe out there
— Alex Coffey (@byalexcoffey) March 12, 2020
Cameras catch Mark Cuban’s live reaction to NBA’s suspension
While most took to Twitter to react to the news, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban’s reaction was caught live on camera during the in-progress Mavs game.
He was, to put it mildly, surprised.
Cameras caught Mark Cuban's reaction to the NBA suspending the season. pic.twitter.com/N9PBl2Nkka
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 12, 2020
Cuban later expanded on his thoughts in an interview with ESPN.
"This is crazy. This can't be true. ... It seemed more like out of a movie than reality."
—Mark Cuban explains his reaction to hearing that the NBA was suspending its season. pic.twitter.com/MHyrAD4D0f— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) March 12, 2020
NBA players have little to say
The league’s players were just as surprised to learn they won’t be going into the office anytime soon.
Damn
— Bradley Beal (@RealDealBeal23) March 12, 2020
Wow https://t.co/nOVU1NQFEl pic.twitter.com/OO0Zs5R3PZ
— Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) March 12, 2020
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) March 12, 2020
No games no pay 👀 hope everybody saved properly https://t.co/mxrdpvNalf
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) March 12, 2020
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) March 12, 2020
— David West (@D_West30) March 12, 2020
Wow
— Zach LaVine (@ZachLaVine) March 12, 2020
What just happened? pic.twitter.com/gObCB2GYoh
— Terrence Ross (@TerrenceRoss) March 12, 2020
This is crazy 😳😳😳
— Tristan Thompson (@RealTristan13) March 12, 2020
It’s done https://t.co/yxdijPXFhq
— Jared Dudley (@JaredDudley619) March 12, 2020
Similar to Cuban, Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was streaming live on Twitch when he heard the news.
Warning: The following video contains profanity.
"No way?!"
Devin Booker was live on Twitch when he found out the news about the NBApic.twitter.com/LGhOqCbXS0— Yahoo Sports NBA (@YahooSportsNBA) March 12, 2020
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