By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
As the concerns regarding the coronavirus outbreak are increasing, the NBA informed teams to prepare for potential games without fans and only “essential staff” in attendance, according to ESPN.
The memo obtained by ESPN noted that members of the media and other typical attendees could also be absent from the arenas. Teams have been asked to identify the team and arena staff essential to conduct such a game as well as to prepare for the possibility of implementing temperature checks on players, team staff, referees and anyone else.
The players asked about playing without fans weren’t too thrilled about the idea, certainly not LeBron James who said that he wouldn’t play if such a scenario occurred: “Nah, that’s impossible. I ain’t playing if I ain’t got the fans in the crowd. That’s what I play for. I play for my teammates, I play for the fans. That’s what it’s all about. If I show up to an arena, and there ain’t no fans there? I ain’t playing. So, they could do what they want to do.”
As of Friday (March 6), the coronavirus has infected more than 95,000 around the world and more than 3,200 deaths have been reported with fifteen of them being in the United States.
The Golden State Warriors confirmed that their next game, against the Philadelphia 76ers, will be played as scheduled despite the San Francisco Department of Public Health advising for the cancellation or postponement of large gatherings.