Long before things escalated, Hawks owner Tony Ressler voiced his intentions.
If coronavirus ever brought the NBA season to a halt, the Hawks wouldn’t leave their part-time employees high and dry.
“Candidly, I’m extraordinarily proud to work for someone like Tony, who weeks ago said ‘If we shut down, we have to take care of our part-time employees,’” Hawks CEO Steve Koonin said.
Unfortunately, coronavirus has forced just that, with the league suspending play Wednesday night after Utah Jazz center Gobert first tested positive for the virus, with his teammate Donovan Mitchell testing positive Thursday.
The ramifications of the NBA taking a minimum of a 30-game hiatus stretch far and wide, from immediate to more long-term.