Coronavirus Update: NBA Games Inclined To Play Without Fans
KEY POINTS
- The coronavirus has threatened several major sporting events in the United States
- The NBA is inclined to playing games without fans in attendance
- The recent OKC Thunder and Utah Jazz game has been postponed
The recent threat of the coronavirus has caused major effects in the sporting scene in the United States. One of these includes the Indian Wells Masters for tennis where the whole tournament was canceled as a precautionary measure against the virus. Now, the NBA is inclined to making a big decision regarding everyone’s safety for the games.
Teams are currently considering continuing their games with the condition of having no fans in attendance. The Golden State Warriors, per Adrian Wojnarowski, are planning to play foreseeable home games without fans in attendance. This is already in compliance with the San Francisco Health Office’s order in prohibiting gatherings of more than one thousand people in attendance.
The Golden State Warriors are planning to play foreseeable home games without fans in observance of the San Francisco Health Office's order prohibiting group of events of 1K or more from assembling, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 11, 2020
The league is looking forward to following a similar route with allowing the games to push through with the exception of fans not being in attendance. Teams and the NBA are looking toward a resolution on Thursday.
The greater consensus among the teams is continuing to play games without fans in arenas, and the league is expected to move toward a resolution on Thursday, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/Op82C0aR6E
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 11, 2020
The option of putting the games in hiatus was also considered. This, however, was overruled as the general direction of the rest of the teams wanted to continue without an audience in the arena. The New York Knicks, however, wanted to keep the games the same in this situation as they are waiting until a government-mandated order is implemented.
Several teams were willing to put the games on hiatus, but the rest wanted to move toward eliminating fans from arenas to continue playing games, sources tell ESPN. One team wanted to keep status quo until a governmental/public mandate dictated change: The New York Knicks.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
Lebron James was on record before saying he disagrees with the option of playing without fans. “If I show up to an arena and there ain’t no fans in there, I ain’t playing,” he shared, saying that the reason he plays is for the people.
"If I show up to an arena and there ain't no fans in there, I ain't playing."
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 7, 2020
LeBron on possibly playing NBA games without any fans in attendance due to coronavirus outbreak. pic.twitter.com/Ee5XMQ40X6
In recent development across the league, the Oklahoma City Thunder were set to face against the Utah Jazz at the Chesapeake Arena. The Thunder broadcast team is said that the game was postponed due to one of the illnesses of Rudy Gobert. “Due to unforeseen circumstances the game, tonight has been postponed. You are all safe,” said the PA announcement.
Jazz-Thunder game has officially been postponed. Fans have been asked to leave Chesapeake Energy Arena. pic.twitter.com/i0rm4khahI
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 12, 2020
Thunder broadcast team is saying that due to Rudy Gobert's illness, the officials have put the game in a delay. They are now waiting for confirmation from the NBA if they should play the game or not.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) March 12, 2020
Gobert was seen joking on the incident a few days ago during a press conference. He touched the microphones and recorders before heading out of the pressroom.

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