NBA star Rudy Gobert joked about coronavirus just days before he was reported to have tested positive for Covid-19.
The league has suspended its season after a player tested positive for coronavirus ahead of Wednesday's game between Utah Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder.
Jazz centre Gobert has widely reported by US media outlets as the player who had returned the positive test, although that was not confirmed by the NBA.
Just days before, Gobert had joked about coronavirus in a press conference.
A video of the press conference which has circulated on social media shows 7ft 1ins French athlete Gobert deliberately touching all the microphones and the table in front of him in a show of defiance against coronavirus.
Ironically, the subsequent positive test from a player reported to be Gobert has led to the NBA season being suspended until further notice following Wednesday's game.
A statement from the league read: "The NBA is suspending game play following the conclusion of tonight's schedule of games until further notice.
"The NBA will use this hiatus to determine next steps for moving forward in regard to the coronavirus pandemic."
Jazz players Gobert and Emmanuel Mudiay were both listed as being out of Wednesday’s game due to illness, before the positive test was reported.
According to Shams Charania, NBA correspondent for The Athletic, sources have said Gobert, 27, is "feeling good, strong and stable — and was feeling strong enough to play tonight".
The positive test result was reported shortly before the tip-off of Wednesday night's game between the Jazz and Thunder, which was then cancelled.
Fans were told to leave the Chesapeake Energy Arena where the game was due to take place. The NBA said the player who returned the positive test was not in the arena.
The NBA statement read: "The NBA announced that a player on the Utah Jazz has preliminarily tested positive for COVID-19.
"The test result was reported shortly prior to the tip-off of tonight's game between the Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
"At that time, tonight's game was cancelled. The affected player was not in the arena."
