Following the postponement of the NBA season, the NBA G League, NBA’s official minor league basketball organization have also postponed their season.
NBA G League To Suspend 2019-20 Season pic.twitter.com/Q4ZsYZ60Jb
— NBA G League (@nbagleague) March 12, 2020
The G League had already finished most of the regular season. Their schedule shows that the games were meant to end by the end of this month. The G League and the NBA are just a few of the many North American sports leagues that have postponed play. A big reason for this is Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz testing positive for the coronavirus.
NBA G League Postpones Season Because of Coronavirus
The Reasons Behind the NBA G League Season Suspension
G League Players who Played Against Rudy Gobert and Utah Jazz
The Utah Jazz were set to play the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Wednesday. According to TMZ Sports, they were moments away from tip-off. However, instead, the referees sent everyone to their locker rooms. Later, they announced that the game was called off. The main reason being Gobert of the Utah Jazz testing positive with the coronavirus.
It makes sense that the G League would also postpone their season. Some of the players on the Utah Jazz or teams that had faced Rudy Gobert were G League players trying to find playing time on the NBA team.
According to Sports Boston, Boston Celtics center, Vincent Poirier and guard Carsen Edwards were playing against Gobert on February 26th. Both players were assigned to the Boston Celtics’ G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws on March 6th.
Several Cases and Deaths in Canada and the US
The other reason is the number of deaths in the US because of the coronavirus. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 1,215 cases and unfortunately 36 deaths in the US. In Canada, where the Toronto Raptors and their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905 play, the coronavirus, for the most part, has been contained. They recently just reached over 100 cases on Wednesday according to Leslie Young of Global News.
There has been one reported death caused by the coronavirus. However, as in the US, the cases for the coronavirus are expected to increase. According to Gabby Rodrigues of Global News, 17 new cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Ontario since then. Although, the province of Ontario, which is the home province of the Toronto Raptors and Raptors 905 have no confirmed deaths so far.
Right now, individual health, as well as the health of others, are more important right now. It might be disappointing that the NBA or the NBA G League season was postponed. However, the NBA did the right thing to make sure the virus does not spread to other players, staff, coaches, and fans.
Main Photo
Embed from Getty Images
