Novel coronavirus is canceling events all over the world, including placing a hiatus on the Chicago Bulls’ season as the NBA is suspended.
The question that everyone around the NBA right now is asking, including fans of the Chicago Bulls, is; what’s next? The Bulls didn’t get to play in that final slate of games on March 11 before the NBA reportedly suspended the rest of the season. The season will at least be suspended for 30 days, and likely go until there is more clarity surrounding what the containment of the novel coronavirus will look like domestically.
The hard part about the COVID-19 outbreak is all the uncertainty surrounding the situation. The Bulls released a statement on the COVID-19 scare on March 12, and it lined up with what the rest of the NBA is doing at the moment.
Moreover, the first key date that emerged for the NBA after the hiatus was originally announced came down on March 12. Apparently the NBA is keeping everything on hiatus for at least 30 days until the COVID-19 precautions and spread calms down.
The NBA has informed all 30 teams on policies effective immediately and through March 16, including:
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 12, 2020
- All players must remain in market of team
- Players remain home as long as possible
- NO group workouts, practices
- Team physicians/trainers speak to each player once a day
Shams Charania of The Athletic posted on his Twitter timeline on March 12 that all 30 NBA teams would be informed of a few policies effective immediately. Those policies would be effective at least through March 16, including all players staying in the same market of their teams, remaining home as long as possible, no holding of group workouts or practices.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver also released a letter to the fans that stated where his thought process was at on March 12.
Adam Silver letter to NBA fans pic.twitter.com/F5GA2Yb0Ib
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 13, 2020
It seems like NBA executive personnel, along with the teams and players themselves are hoping that the rest of the season can just be pushed back a few months. Given that the NBA playoffs wouldn’t start for at least another month anyway, that could be a possibility.
NBA has informed franchises that "each team is encouraged" to conduct educational meeting by Monday for players/staff with physicians to discuss coronavirus situation -- either in person (appropriate spacing) or remotely.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 13, 2020
Several teams had such meetings before suspended season.
It doesn’t appear that any of the Bulls players have individually undergone COVID-19 symptoms. At least that’s what the Bulls statement released on March 12 showed.
Official Statement from the Chicago Bulls: pic.twitter.com/IpwNvXERH1
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) March 12, 2020
The next game that the Bulls were set to play was against the Orlando Magic on the road on March 12. But the NBA cut off the season for this hiatus on March 11.
If the season were to end with the Bulls record as of March 11, then they would be well out of the playoff picture. Jumping straight to the playoffs would mean that the last game for the Bulls would be their win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, 108-103, on March 10. The Bulls currently carry a record of 22-43. They have at least matched their record from a season ago.
However, in a TNT interview with commissioner Silver, he stated that the season would at least be called off for 30 days. That interview occurred on March 12, so it would be at least April 11 when the season would resume at the earliest.
At the moment, two NBA players have tested positive for novel coronavirus. Point guard Emmanuel Mudiay posted on his Twitter timeline on March 12 that he tested negative for COVID-19, as he was feared to be the third. The two that did test positive were Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert and guard Donovan Mitchell (per ESPN and Woj).
Jazz star Donovan Mitchell has tested positive for the coronavirus, league sources tell ESPN. Jazz players privately say that Rudy Gobert had been careless in the locker room touching other players and their belongings. Now a Jazz teammate has tested positive.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) March 12, 2020
Firstly, thanks to everyone for the positive words. Yesterday I got tested for the Covid-19 virus. By God’s grace it came out negative. Despite my teammates and I taking necessary precautions, it didn’t turn out as expected. To my guys @spidadmitchell @rudygobert27, God speed🙏🏾❤️ pic.twitter.com/5zbj1MFgRO
— Emmanuel Mudiay (@emmanuelmudiay) March 12, 2020
Once the COVID-19 cases start to calm down domestically and this 30 day hiatus is up around the NBA, then there can be some other discussions that take place for the league. Until then, the country continues to cancel events and sports continue to be postponed. According to an announcement from Augusta National officials on March 13, the Masters is the latest big time sporting event to be canceled/postponed.
For the time being, the Bulls have to sit and wait while the country deals with COVID-19. CDC precautions and information can be found on the Center for Disease Control’s website as the situation continues to be monitored.
Really the next focus for the Bulls beyond the COVID-19 precautions should be on what’s ahead for the 2020 NBA Draft. The NCAA Tournament and conference tournaments around college hoops getting canceled means a lot less national exposure for various NBA Draft prospects.
This COVID-19 pandemic is canceling events around the world, and even has the country of Italy on lockdown. It is a storyline that will change day-by-day, and the Bulls will have to turn to the NBA commissioner and the government for guidance. Focusing on the rebuild is still something that the front office has to do, though, once everything returns to normal. The NBA Draft and free agency are still looming tasks that need attention.