NBA Suspends Season In Drastic Move Amid Coronavirus Fears

The National Basketball Association is suspending the season after a player tested positive for the new coronavirus, a sobering preview of what potentially could be severe disruptions in sports and entertainment as America struggles to address the coronavirus threat.

The NBA's move is the most drastic step taken by a professional sports league amid fears of a national COVID-19 outbreak. Two games Wednesday night were postponed; There is no word on when play might resume.

"The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic," the league said in a statement.

The announcement came shortly after a game between the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder in Oklahoma was canceled at the last minute. Fans were sent home.

It was reported that Jazz All-Star center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for COVID-19, making him the first professional sports player in America to have a public positive test. The NBA did not identify Gobert, but said the "affected player" was not in the arena.

The Jazz said in a statement a preliminary positive test for the player came back right before the game was set to start.

"It's crazy," Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban said on ESPN moments after learning of the news. "It can't be true."

The NBA had initially planned to play the rest of the season without fans beginning Thursday.

The NCAA announced hours earlier March Madness will be played without fans, a historic measure that drove home how much the coronavirus will impact American entertainment.

The National Hockey League and Major League Baseball suspended operations Thursday.