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NBA owners were left hopeful of seeing the season resume after ex-US surgeon general Dr. Vivek Murphy spoke during an NBA Board of Governors call on Tuesday, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN.

The league was suspended last Wednesday after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 and will remain inactive for a 30-day period, at the very least.

Wojnarowski has reported that Dr. Murphy’s message, noting the potential impact of the coronavirus in the US, was consistent with other credible health organizations – but owners were also hopeful of the season resuming before July.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania has also reported on this, claiming the ex-surgeon general said millions would have been at risk to die had America not hardened its stance.

He tweeted: “Dr. Vivek Murthy, former US Surgeon general, told NBA owners today about coronavirus: If the United States had not hardened its stance across country, millions were at risk to die — and cases will likely only increase, like they did in Italy, over the next 2-to-3 months.”