Milwaukee Bucks: NBA season suspended due to coronavirus

Following a positive test for a Utah Jazz player, the Milwaukee Bucks and the rest of the NBA have suspended the season due to novel coronavirus.

After a series of alarming events led to the last-minute cancellation of Wednesday’s game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz, the NBA followed the lead of various other sporting bodies around the world and suspended its season due to novel coronavirus.

The news means that play for the Milwaukee Bucks and the NBA’s other 29 teams has, at the very least, been postponed until further notice.

The NBA took action after it was announced a Utah Jazz player had tested positive for COVID-19, with reports naming that player as All-Star center and reigning two-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert.

According to ESPN’s Royce Young, Gobert was said to have been tested for influenza earlier on Wednesday, and following the appropriate procedures given the current climate, was subsequently tested for coronavirus.

Awaiting the results of the test, Gobert was stationed in a nearby Oklahoma City hotel as his teammates took the court and prepared to tip-off against the Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

More from Bucks News

• Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
• Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
• Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
• Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
• New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited

When results were confirmed just before tip-off, the news was shared with the players, coaches, and officials, who immediately left the court, before the game was officially postponed and fans were instructed to leave the arena.

Players from both teams were held in the arena under quarantine conditions for a number of hours, with personnel associated with the Jazz ultimately tested before being allowed to leave in the early hours of the morning.

In the days ahead, a wider range of contact testing would seem likely among NBA personnel, with those who’ve been in recent contact with the Jazz likely being required to self-isolate as a precaution.

The Bucks last played the Jazz on November 26, but will likely undertake their own precautionary procedures in the days ahead. The Boston Celtics, who were scheduled to play the Bucks on Thursday night, are one of three teams who had played the Jazz in the week prior to Wednesday’s news.

According to the aforementioned ESPN report:

"“Players the Jazz have faced within the past 10 days are being told to self-quarantine, a source told ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. During that time period, Utah has played the Cleveland Cavaliers, the New York Knicks, the Boston Celtics, the Detroit Pistons and the Toronto Raptors.”"

In a statement released via the team’s official social media on Wednesday night, Barry Baum, the Chief Communications Officer of the Milwaukee Bucks and Fiserv Forum said:

"“Like everyone, we were just made aware that the league is suspending its season. This is a fluid situation so we will have more information as soon as possible for our fans who have tickets to upcoming games. We will continue to provide updates as they become available.”"

The sporting element of the news obviously pales in comparison to the significant threat to public health posed by the novel coronavirus, which was characterized as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on Wednesday.

It remains unclear as to what will happen with the NBA season, and how what had been shaping up to be a truly historic Bucks campaign will conclude. The reality is that this may in fact be the end of it, depending on how the situation evolves around the world in the weeks and months ahead.

Regardless, we’ll continue to have your usual daily coverage of all things Bucks here at Behind the Buck Pass, albeit that coverage will undoubtedly be a little different to what we’re all used to given the circumstances.

In the meantime, be sure to follow the instructions of local health authorities wherever in the world you find yourself.

For more information about COVID-19, visit the website for the CDC, WHO, or the website for your state’s Department of Health.