NBA halts rest of G League season

(FILES) In this file photo taken on February 21, 2020 general view of NBA ball during a game between the Milwaukee Bucks and Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena on February 20, 2020 in Detroit, Michigan. – The NBA will suspend play starting on March 12, 2020 after a Utah Jazz player preliminarily tested positive for the new coronavirus, the league said Wednesday. The test result was reported shortly before Utah’s game against the Thunder in Oklahoma City was to begin, and that game was abruptly postponed. (Photo by Gregory Shamus / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP)

The NBA has cancelled the remainder of its developmental G League season after three months of being shutdown due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

“While cancelling the remainder of our season weighs heavily on us, we recognize that it is the most appropriate action to take for our league,” said league president Shareef Abdur-Rahim in a statement on Thursday.

“I extend my sincere gratitude to NBA G League players and coaches for giving their all to their teams and fans this season. And to our fans, I thank you and look forward to resuming play for the 2020-21 season.”

The decision comes on the same day that the NBA board of governors officially announced a plan that would see the league resume play on July 31 with 22 teams taking part.

Abdur-Rahim said the end-of-season awards — Most Valuable Player, Coach of the Year and Rookie of the Year — would be handed out at a later date.

G League play was suspended March 12. The 2019-20 regular season was originally scheduled to finish on March 28.