The Chicago Bulls’ victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday could very well be their last game of the season.
No plan is currently in place when it comes to resuming the 2019-20 NBA regular season. While it’s possible the NBA decides to resume activity as normal in the future, it feels just as likely that at least the regular season has reached its end.
I’m sure it’ll be something the Bulls ponder during their flight back to Chicago today. According to K.C. Johnson, the team is currently on its way home and could plan to self-isolate upon return.
Bulls currently traveling home from Orlando. Fluid situation, and more definitive info could come from afternoon call for all teams/league. But early signs that players/traveling party will be self isolating in short term. Not out of fear of anyone having virus but out of caution
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) March 12, 2020
As far as we know, nobody on the team (or associated with the team) has symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19. However, players/team personnel seem prepared to take the extra precaution, and I would expect many teams to follow suit. As Zach LaVine pointed out the other day, people in the entertainment sphere feel incredibly susceptible to coming in contact with the illness. Of course, everyone has to take the necessary precautions, but NBA players are constantly on flights, surrounded by fans, and in close quarters with their teammates.
Indeed, the Orlando Magic (along with the Memphis Grizzlies), reportedly used the same plane as Rudy Gobert and the Utah Jazz over the last couple of days.
#Breaking: The team plane used to transported the Utah Jazz to Oklahoma City was later used to transport both the Orlando Magic and the Memphis Grizzlies in recent days. pic.twitter.com/2vUTOcKdR8
— Ben Bearup (@TheAviationBeat) March 12, 2020
.@OrlandoMagic CEO Alex Martins confirms the team used the same Delta charter to get home from Memphis on Tues that @utahjazz & Rudy Gobert flew on earlier that day. Delta & docs told the Magic the plane was disinfected prior to the flight & that wouldn’t be considered “exposure”
— John Denton (@JohnDenton555) March 12, 2020
It’s unclear if this has impacted any Magic personnel, let alone how much contact the Bulls had with the organization while in town. As of now, it doesn’t sound like we have any reason to worry, but nonetheless, these are the exact reasons you’re bound to see teams and players around the league move forward with a self-quarantine. Also, it sheds some more light on exactly why it’s necessary to suspend all NBA operations.
As we’re all seeing, this can spread fast, and the NBA has to do its part in solving the problem.