It was only a matter of time before the outbreak of the coronavirus disease triggered a very consequential impact on American sports. That impact occurred Wednesday night when the NBA—the third highest-grossing sports league in the world—announced that it was indefinitely suspending the 2019-20 season.
The suspension began following the conclusion of Wednesday night’s games. The league had been exploring the possibility of playing games without live audiences, a game environment already compelled by several states and municipalities that have banned large public gatherings. The NBA’s position abruptly shifted when a player on the Utah Jazz—center Rudy Gobert, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania—preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19.