Jazz's Gobert tests positive for COVID-19

Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The NBA later announced the season will be indefinitely suspended effective Thursday due to a positive COVID-19 test for a Jazz player. The league's statement did not name Gobert.

The 27-year-old tested positive days after he was seen touching all the microphones at a press conference Monday.

Gobert had been ruled questionable for the Jazz's game Wednesday against the Oklahoma City Thunder due to illness. The matchup was then postponed minutes prior to tipoff due to an apparent medical issue.

Both the Thunder and the Jazz were then held in quarantine at the former's arena, with Utah being held back longer, according to ESPN's Royce Young. The Jazz cannot return home until they coordinate with both Oklahoma and Salt Lake City public health organizations, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The Jazz confirmed in a statement that a player on their roster had a preliminary positive test for COVID-19. Like the NBA, they did not name Gobert.

This morning a player on the Utah Jazz tested negative for influenza, strep throat, and an upper respiratory infection. The individual's symptoms diminished over the course of today, however, in a precuationary measure, and in consultation and cooperation with NBA medical staff and Oklahoma health officials, the decision was made to test for COVID-19.

A preliminary positive result came back right before tipoff of the Utah Jazz-Oklahoma City game. Subsequently, the decision was correctly made by the NBA to postpone the game. When it was determined that the individual would be tested, we immediately informed the league office. The health and safety of our players, our organization, those throughout our league, and all those potentially impacted by this situation are paramount in our discussions.

We are working closely with the CDC, Oklahoma and Utah state officials to determine how to best move forward as we gather more information. The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City. In coordination with the NBA and state officials, we will provide updates at the appropriate time.

Orlando Magic swingman Evan Fournier, who plays internationally with Gobert for France, said he spoke with the center following reports of his positive test.

As a result of Gobert's diagnosis, players on teams who have faced the Jazz within the last 10 days are all being told to self-quarantine, ESPN's Brian Windhorst reports. That would include the Cleveland Cavaliers (March 2), New York Knicks (March 4), Boston Celtics (March 6), Detroit Pistons (March 7), and Toronto Raptors (March 9). The Raptors also underwent precautionary testing Wednesday, sources told Charania.