As the Bulls wrapped up a 108-102 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, reporting surfaced (via Shams Charania of The Athletic) that the NBA sent a memo telling teams to prepare for the possibility of playing games without fans in the wake of the rapidly spreading coronavirus.
The NBA wouldn't be the first sports league to take such precautions. Already, leagues in Italy and Japan — two countries particularly affected by the outbreak — have held sporting events without fans and instituted plans to continue to do so.
Still, it would be a massive atmospheric shakeup.
"It’d be crazy. One of my best friends actually plays in Italy, and Italy is getting hit by it pretty bad. I think they’re thinking about canceling their whole season," Zach LaVine said after Bulls practice on Saturday. "I think it would take a little bit of some competitiveness out because obviously I think the fans and atmosphere make a big thing about the game."
LaVine's home state of Washington has been among the hardest hit areas in the United States by the virus. Recent reporting has their state-wide confirmed case total up to 102 and death toll up to 16. LaVine's parents reside in Snohomish, where 27 confirmed cases have cropped up.
"I know it’s like flu symptoms, but it’s really attacking the older people with respiratory problems and things like that," LaVine said. "I just hope everybody out there stays safe and we’ll get through it."
Last week, the NBA circulated a memo to teams detailing common sense preventative practices in an attempt to raise awareness.
NBA
"I’ve just made sure I’m clean and people around me, my family. Wash my hands and being safe. It’s crazy man. You never know what can happen with this world," LaVine said.
But even since then, the implications have accelerated. Saturday morning, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman reported the NHL will close locker rooms to members of the media upon recommendation of the Center for Disease Control. Other American sports leagues might not be far behind, though nothing has been mandated to NBA teams yet.
"Well, I'd be heartbroken. First of all, I understand what's going on and the league has done I think a great job of staying on top of it. I think the league's great in these situations of communicating and just understanding where we're at as a league," Bulls coach Jim Boylen said on the possibility of playing in an empty arena. "I'd be heartbroken for the fans and I'd be heartbroken for the players. If it has to happen, it's what's best for everybody. But I think that would be a tough moment."
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