LeBron James and NBA stars react to NBA’s shock suspension of the season
Last week, LeBron James said he wouldn’t play in front of empty stands but the NBA superstar has been left stunned by the shock suspension.
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NBA stars have been left stunned after the stunning suspension of the NBA season after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.
It’s the moment the sporting world has been dreading and the NBA reacted swiftly, shutting down the game for the near future.
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A game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder was called off shortly before it was scheduled to get underway after Gobert’s positive test was returned prior to tip-off.
A statement from the league announced the season would be put on hold following the completion of today’s games “until further notice”.
“The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice. The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic”.
While the world was quick to react to the news with the likes of The Ringer’s Bill Simmons calling it “the craziest day in NBA history”, James broke his silence, tweeting later in the afternoon.
It’s been a rough season for the NBA with James bringing up the death of Kobe Bryant after what’s been a nightmarish start to the year.
Man we cancelling sporting events, school, office work, etc etc. What we really need to cancel is 2020! 🤦ðŸ¾â€â™‚ï¸. Damn it’s been a rough 3 months. God bless and stay safeðŸ™ðŸ¾
— LeBron James (@KingJames) March 12, 2020
James had said last week that he wouldn’t play without the fans in the stands.
“No. It’s impossible. I ain’t playing,” James said. “If we ain’t got fans in the crowd that’s who I play for. That’s what it’s all about.
“If I show up to the arena and there ain’t no fans in there, I ain’t playing.”
But James’ stunned reaction was far from the only one with the rest of the league left stunned by the decision.
“WTF bro...â€
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) March 12, 2020
Devin Booker found out the NBA was suspended while on Twitch. pic.twitter.com/m0TERskT2Q
Devin Booker was on Twitch at the time the news came through and was in disbelief.
“What the f*** is going on bro?” he said.
2020 aint it. Don't know what to compare this situation to…just gotta buckle up and take care of yourself and those around you. Basketball will be back at some point but right now, protect yourself and stay safe out there!
— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) March 12, 2020
2020 is being very bad year!! stay safe folksðŸ™
— Luka Doncic (@luka7doncic) March 12, 2020
Space Jam all over again
— Isaiah Thomas (@isaiahthomas) March 12, 2020
wow bro wow
— Ja Morant (@JaMorant) March 12, 2020
Man... This stuff crazy... Praying for EVERYBODY in this tough timeðŸ™ðŸ½
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) March 12, 2020
— Enes Kanter (@EnesKanter) March 12, 2020
Mood pic.twitter.com/CrfRocKCfu
— Hassan Whiteside (@youngwhiteside) March 12, 2020
No games no pay 👀 hope everybody saved properly https://t.co/mxrdpvNalf
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) March 12, 2020
Wow https://t.co/nOVU1NQFEl pic.twitter.com/OO0Zs5R3PZ
— Jusuf Nurkić (@bosnianbeast27) March 12, 2020
The positive diagnosis of the seven-foot-one Frenchman is at the centre of why the league has been shut down for the foreseeable future with several issues up in the air.
Gobert has played five other teams since the start of March including Boston, Toronto, New York and Cleveland, sharing the court with 50 opposition players and 15 referees as well as countless ball boys, security guards, attendants and others in the stadium.
Reports are that Gobert’s teammates and Jazz staff and coaches will also be affected.
“I’m sure I probably had contact with him,” Detroit’s Langston Galloway said. “Staying focused on that moment of interaction with a lot of different people and knowing that at the end of the day you might have touched the ball, you might have interacted with a fan and just being (cautious) with that going forward.”
The shutdown could cost teams well into the hundreds of millions of dollars depending on how long the shutdown lasts.
Those teams that have faced Gobert in recent days will likely face some testing. And some of those Jazz reporters said they were getting tested for COVID-19, just in case.
“It’s unprecedented,” Detroit Pistons coach Dwane Casey said. “I think it’s the prudent thing to do. And what went on in Utah, I don’t know all the information but that just shows you how fragile everything is right now.”
This is the reality of the coronavirus, which was labelled a pandemic by the World Health Organisation on Wednesday weeks after beginning its havoc-wreaking global run that has sickened well over 100,000 and killed more than 4,000.
Charlotte coach James Borrego said these are scary times in the NBA, and no one argued.
“They’re all concerned and rightfully so,” Casey said. “Everybody in our league should be concerned. I think everybody in our country right now, more than just basketball, is concerned. We all have to take care of ourselves and look out for our fellow man.”
— with AP
Originally published as LeBron James and NBA stars react to NBA’s shock suspension of the season