Coronavirus: Kiwi NBA star Steven Adams returns negative COVID-19 test

Steven Adams' Oklahoma City Thunder have confirmed all players and staffers tested for coronavirus have received negative results.

The Thunder followed the recommendation from infectious disease experts its contingent should be tested for COVID-19, after last Thursday's (NZ time) scheduled game against the Jazz was abandoned just before tipoff, when Utah centre Rudy Gobert returned a positive test.

If the game had gone ahead as scheduled, Adams would have been in close contact with his French rival for most of the 48 minutes.

With a full stadium at Chesapeake Energy Arena, players had completed warm-ups and pre-match introductions, when medical staff ushered them back to the locker-rooms and spectators waited almost an hour, before an official announcement that the fixture had been postponed.

Both teams were quarantined inside the stadium and the entire 58-person travelling party for the Jazz were tested that night, with guard Donovan Mitchell returning a positive test. 

The Thunder were not tested that night and opted to get tests done at a later date, following the advice from the infectious disease experts'

"Recognising the stress on the state of Oklahoma's medical system, the Thunder did not use state resources and chose an alternative path for testing of its personnel," said the Thunder.

The team also says it's focused on the city and state's health. 

"The Thunder will continue to work in coordination with team physicians, public health officials and infectious disease experts, while focusing on the health and safety of everyone in our community."

In the past week, known COVID-19 cases in the NBA have risen from one to seven, with Detroit Pistons forward Christian Wood and four Brooklyn Nets players - including former Thunder star Kevin Durant - returning positive tests. 

The Los Angeles Lakers have also been tested, but results have not been released.

After Gobert's positive test, the NBA season was suspended, triggering a global shutdown of other major sports leagues and events.