Utah Jazz big centre, Rudy Gobert has tested positive to the deadly coronavirus, making the NBA suspend the season indefinitely on Wednesday night.
The suspension was made just before the Jazz’s match-up with the Oklahoma City Thunder, where the 27-year-old Rudy Gobert was expected to play, but was later dropped, after his case was confirmed positive.
He was reported to have been feeling unwell in the last two days before he was identified as coronavirus carrier when his result came back positive on Wednesday night. The NBA, not to risk anything, decided to suspend the season indefinitely afterwards.
The result comes less than 48 hours after the 27-year-old in a video that has gone viral, appeared to make light of the mass panic in society by touching all of the microphones at a press conference on Monday.
Rudy Gobert in the video, can be seen getting up from his chair to leave the room before rushing back to wipe his hands on the audio equipment and laughing as he jogged back out.
Players from both sides were ready to start the game before the NBA announced their suspension and ESPN report that the squads were left in quarantine at the Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma.
Players that have played the Jazz in the last fortnight have been urged to self-isolate.
An NBA spokesman released the following statement after the suspension: ‘The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic,” the league said.