Report: NBA Sends Coronavirus Memo to Teams with Strategy Recommendations

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerFeatured ColumnistMarch 3, 2020

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - OCTOBER 11: A detail view of official Spalding NBA logo basketball on the floor during a preseason game between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on October 11, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Pacers defeated the Bulls 105-87. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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The NBA passed along a memo to all 30 teams to outline ideas to combat the spread of coronavirus, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Zach Lowe

The memo included small changes for players, including fist-bumping fans instead of high-fiving them and declining to sign autographs on items handed to them from the crowd.

The NBA issued a statement about the matter on Saturday, per the Associated Press' Stephen Whyno: "The health and safety of our employees, teams, players and fans is paramount. We are coordinating with our teams and consulting with the CDC and infectious disease specialists on the coronavirus and continue to monitor the situation closely."

Wojnarowski and Lowe also reported NBA officials and front-office executives have questioned whether the coronavirus outbreak will impact the predraft process leading up to the event on June 25.

The involved parties have discussed possible changes to combines, workouts and international scouting events, as well as the outright cancellation of the showcases.

According to CNN, the United States has discovered 102 cases of the virus throughout the country, and the outbreak has accounted for 3,000 deaths worldwide.

Portland Trail Blazers star CJ McCollum alerted fans on Twitter to a case in the state of Oregon:

The New York Times' Victor Mather noted how the coronavirus outbreak has raised concerns throughout the sports world, most notably surrounding the Summer Olympics.

International Olympic Committee member Dick Pound said officials could consider scrapping the event, which begins July 24 in Tokyo, if the situation escalated.

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