NBA Releases List of Temporary Policies for Players Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
By Jerry Trotta
After Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus, the NBA promptly acted and announced the suspension of its season. As the league continues to mull its future, other teams that have played against Utah in the last week -- the Celtics, Knicks, Cavaliers, Raptors, and Pistons -- were ordered to self-quarantine.
Since that shocking revelation, Jazz point guard Donovan Mitchell has also tested positive for COVID-19.
Well, amid the ongoing outbreak, the NBA has officially notified all 30 teams on the temporary policies to follow, effective immediately. There will be no group workouts or practices, players are to remain home as long as possible, remain in the market of their team, and speak to team physicians at least once per day.
NBA has notified all 30 teams on the following policies effective immediately and through March 16:
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) March 12, 2020
-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 pic.twitter.com/eaCNUsbW9h
The NBA is doing its best to prevent further spreading the virus among players, and ensuring they have minimal contact with large groups of people is essential.
We'll obviously have to wait and see how long this hiatus will last, but ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting that league owners are asking that commissioner Adam Silver reassess the suspension in 30 days.
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.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
The NBA's regular season was scheduled to conclude on April 15, a date which is most likely set to change. When play will resume however, remains very unclear.