Thunder forward Danilo Gallinari, in a Players' Tribune story headlined "The night that changed basketball forever," gave a behind-the-scenes account of what happened at Chesapeake Energy Arena on March 11.
The Thunder-Jazz game was postponed and the NBA season was suspended after it became known that Jazz center Rudy Gobert had tested positive for the coronavirus.
"I’m always the first player from either team to take the court for the opening tip, and usually when I get out there the three refs are standing in the same spots every time — one at half court, and then one near each free throw line," Gallinari wrote.