‘Crazy ... Can’t be true’ | Mavericks’ Mark Cuban, social media react to NBA’s suspension
Mark Cuban, NBA fans all over social media feel your pain.
Cuban, the owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, was caught on camera reacting to news the NBA has suspended its season due to the coronavirus.
Mark Cuban responds to the NBA shutdown: pic.twitter.com/oydIV7q6lA
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) March 12, 2020
Cuban, like NBA players and fans around the world, reacted with disbelief and amazement.
“This is crazy,” Cuban told ESPN while the Mavericks took on the Denver Nuggets. News of the suspension broke while the game was still going on.
“This is so far out of the realm of reality that it feels like more of a movie,” Cuban said.
Social media agreed.
Mark Cuban’s reaction to the news that the NBA Season has been suspendedpic.twitter.com/a41ihhXmdk
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) March 12, 2020
The league made the announcement following news that Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz had tested positive for coronavirus.
This one’s for you @NBA pic.twitter.com/42wnJDySuF
— Stephen A. Smith Burner (@SASBurnerAcct) March 12, 2020
The test result, the NBA said, was reported shortly before the scheduled tip-off time for the Utah at Oklahoma City game on Wednesday night was called off. Players were on the floor for warmups and tip-off was moments away when they were told to return to their locker rooms.
Cameras caught Mark Cuban's reaction to the NBA suspending the season. pic.twitter.com/N9PBl2Nkka
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) March 12, 2020
About 30 minutes later, fans were told the game was postponed “due to unforeseen circumstances.”
Those circumstances were the league’s worst-case scenario for now — a player testing positive. A second person who spoke to AP on condition of anonymity said the league expects the shutdown to last a minimum of two weeks, but cautioned that timeframe is very fluid.
Some fans seemed to support the league and Commissioner Adam Silver in the decision.
Protecting life is so much more important and the NBA did the right thing postponing the season.
— Peter Bukowski (@Peter_Bukowski) March 12, 2020
That said it really sucks such an incredible #Bucks season, an incredible Giannis season with a genuine chance to compete for a title, could be lost.
Again, health matters me.
The @NBA's Adam Silver is one amazing human -- decisive leader with literally no fear, no matter what others think - doing the right thing to protect his greatest asset, his players
— Rich Greenfield, LightShed (@RichLightShed) March 12, 2020
well done @NBA
Per the NBA’s statement, the league “will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic.”
NBA league pass running off with the paid accounts pic.twitter.com/gHRHDjQa0H
— Prolific || iCoerce (@I_Exude_Sarcasm) March 12, 2020
The league was already considering playing games without fans in attendance, a step the NCAA announced it would take for the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball tournaments.
No more NBA 😔💔 pic.twitter.com/YEA5DVZOEc
— Prettyboyfredo (@Prettyboyfredo) March 12, 2020
According to the World Health Organization, which declared a pandemic on Wednesday, people with mild illness recover in about two weeks, while those with more severe illness may take three to six weeks to recover. In mainland China, where the virus first exploded, more than 80,000 people have been diagnosed and more than 58,000 have so far recovered.
So Tom Hanks and his wife got the corona virus, Rudy Gobert got the corona virus, And the NBA season is suspended.
— Chamberlain (@Chamborlainn) March 12, 2020
Me: pic.twitter.com/lWSTeJXpiO
It has been a worldwide issue for several weeks. And now, it has hit the NBA.
The @NBA and @NCAA are really not going through with annual tradition over a overhyped, glorified flu? SMH
— Patch Scalabrine (@chrispringle21) March 12, 2020
It is the latest major development in a difficult season.
The NBA didn’t get suspended when Magic got HIV these players soft would never last in the 80s
— Anthony (@OMGItsBirdman) March 12, 2020
The league lost as much as $400 million in revenue after a rift with China was started in October when Houston general manager Daryl Morey tweeted out support of anti-government protesters in Hong Kong.
No games no pay 👀 hope everybody saved properly https://t.co/mxrdpvNalf
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) March 12, 2020
Former NBA Commissioner David Stern died in January, the same month that soon-to-be Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash. And now, a pandemic — which could also cost the league hundreds of millions in lost revenue, depending on how long it lasts.
