N AT I O N A L B A S K E T B A L L A S S O C I AT I O N

COMMUNICATIONS
PRESS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NBA TO SUSPEND SEASON FOLLOWING TONIGHT’S GAMES

- NBA Player Tests Positive for COVID-19 -

NEW YORK, March 11, 2020 - The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has precliminarily tested
positive for COVID-19. The test results was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of tonight’s game between the
Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder as Chesapeake Energy Arena. At that time, tonight’s game was canceled.
The affected player was not in the arena.

The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight’s schedule of games until further notice.
The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.

Both the Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder players and coaching staff are being tested and will remain in
isolation until all test results are back.

-30-
Contact
Mike Bass, Executive Vice President Communications, NBA
mbass@nba.com
545.123.9876

About the NBA

The NBA is a global sports and media business built around three professional sports leagues: the National
Basketball Association, the Women’s National Basketball Association, and the NBA Development League. The
league has established a major international presence with games and programming in 215 countries and
territories in 49 languages, and NBA merchandise for sale in more than 125,000 stores in 100 countries on 6
continents.
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TIMELINE OF EVENTS
vs. Novel coronavirus identified in China
(COVID-19).
W,H.O declares a global health Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tests
emergency. positive for COVID-19. NBA suspends
season effective March 12, 2020.

The 2019/20 NBA season commences NBA hosts the NBA All-Star Game in
with Raptors vs. Pelicans tip-off. Chigaco, Illinois.
First confirmed case in the United
States of America.

10.22.19 12.31.19 01.21.20 01.30.20 02.16.20 03.11.20

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CRISIS MANAGEMENT
STRATEGIC PLAN: COVID-19
FOCUS OBJECTIVE TACTICS
- Test all players/coaches in contact with Utah team in
Keeping players, coaches, staff, and fans safe past week
HEALTH & SAFETY during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. - Any infected players forced to self-isolate
- All players encouraged to self-quaratine

Constantly communicating important - Social media posts (player videos, infographics)

- Virtual conferences and meetings with media and
COMMUNICATION information regarding the virus, next steps, new
initiatives, and positive words of encouragement players
to fans and NBA family. - Regular weekly updates on status of NBA season

- Offering ticket refunds for games that do not happen

Ensuring fans do not take a financial hit during
FINANCIAL the pandemic, while being able to satfisfy
financial commitments.
Continuing to review options to determine best
TIMELINES ways to resume season or wrap up season,
when it is safe to do so.
Striving to provide entertainment to fans during
ENTERTAINMENT the pandemic, with elimination of live games for
an indefinite time.
- Pay player salaries up to April 1st then re-evaluate
depending on situation progress
- Encourage teams to pay team and arena staff for two
weeks
- Depending on progress, review alternative solutions
- Play games without fans, to be streamed on TV
- Reduction of fans permitted in arena for games
- Jump directly into playoffs with current standings
- One final tournament to determine championship
- Social media (Instagram Live, polls, trivia etc.)
- Replay classic NBA games on TV
- NBA 2K Tournament with players
- H-O-R-S-E competition with players from their home
- At home workouts from NBA trainers
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FACT SHEET E S T. 1 9 4 6
I N T E R N AT I O N A L P R E S E N C E

4
in 13 markets worldwide
National Basketball Association
LEAGUES

Women’s National Basketball Association

NBA G League
NBA 2K League

3,260
employees 15 million youth
3 million hours
#NBACARES 1,000 safe places
by
2025.
$8.8B $1.9B 7.7M
$
S O C I A L S TAT S

47.3M 38.5M
ANNUAL avg. team av g . p l ay e r
REVENUE va l u at i o n salary 30.4M 13.7M

30 teams 510 PLAYERS 1,230 GAMES

I N t e g r i t y • t e a m w o r k • R E S P E C T • I N N O VAT I O N