By Agence France-Presse
Atlanta Hawks forward Vince Carter may have already played his final NBA game thanks to the novel coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19), the eight-time all-star said Wednesday.
Vince Carter #15 of the Atlanta Hawks (Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images / AFP)
The league has decided to suspend the season after a player tested positive for the illness and anxiety that the virus could spread unchecked among fans at sporting events.
Carter has already announced that he would retire after this season.
His five-point performance against the New York Knicks on Wednesday will be his last appearance if NBA games do not resume before April’s scheduled playoffs.
The league suspension is for the foreseeable future but Carter already sounded like someone who was checking out after a career that spanned 24 seasons.
“It’s a weird way to say I’m calling it a career. It really is,” Carter said. “I have 15 games left, technically. But if not, I’m one with it.”
Players said they were shaken as they took to the court on Wednesday knowing at least one player was already ill with the virus.
Mavericks guard JJ Barea said he tried to block the disease out of his mind during his game against the Denver Nuggets.
“It is like a bad movie,” Barea said.
“I’ve got a little bit of fear. But you can only control what you can control. Tonight my job was to play basketball.”
Nuggets player Paul Millsap said he was stunned by the news of the league’s suspension.
“It is a scary situation. Everyone is in shock,” said Millsap.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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