The NBA has taken the unprecedented step of suspending its regular season indefinitely and immediately, after a player on the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus.

The player was not immediately identified by the league, which said “the affected player was not in the arena” for a game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder, but several media outlets reported that it was Utah centre Rudy Gobert.

The suspension of games was termed “until further notice” by the league in a late-night announcement.

The Raptors played the Jazz in Utah on Monday night. Gobert was heavily involved in the game and ejected late in the fourth quarter along with Toronto’s OG Anunoby.

Raptors team officials were not available for immediate comment on the rapidly developing situation.

Many team members were at two different functions hosted by coach Nick Nurse and Norm Powell on Wednesday night, which included members of the general public.

Some of the discussion before the events began centred on the possibility of playing games in empty arenas. There was no indication there had been a positive test for someone who will now become known as the sports world’s Patient Zero in a critical worldwide health emergency.

The Jazz said it was “working closely with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) Oklahoma and Utah state officials and the NBA to determine how to best move forward as we gather more information. The individual is currently in the care of health officials in Oklahoma City,” a team statement said.

The team said a player — they did not identify him — tested negative for influenza, strep throat and an upper respiratory infection. The individual’s symptoms diminished over the course of today, however, in a precautionary measure, and in consultation and cooperation with NBA medical staff and Oklahoma health officials, the decision was made to test for COVID-19.

A preliminary positive result came back right before tipoff of the Jazz-Thunder game in Oklahoma City. Subsequently, the decision was made by the NBA to postpone the game.

It is the first in-season suspension of games in NBA history and capped a fast-moving series of developments over the day.

Gobert, not coincidentally, mocked the impact of the virus earlier this week, ending a game-day morning media session by rubbing his hands over the table he was seated at and licking microphones in front of him.

“The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic,” the league said in announcing the suspension of games.

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The league was in the process of figuring out how to deal with the fast-moving situation before the Gobert positive test became public. A majority of teams had been OK with the idea of playing games in arenas devoid of fans, but the positive test changed all of that.

How long, or if, team officials of the Jazz or Thunder — or any other team that had been involved in games with either of them — might have to remain in a quarantine situation was also unclear.

The NHL, meanwhile, announced late Wednesday that it was still considering its options.

“The National Hockey League is aware of the NBA’s decision tonight to indefinitely suspend its season due to a player testing positive for the coronavirus,” the league said in a statement after the NBA announcement. “The NHL is continuing to consult with medical experts and is evaluating the options. We expect to have a further update (Thursday).”