Pelicans Owner Gayle Benson Diagnosed With Coronavirus

Pelicans owner Gayle Benson has been diagnosed with the coronavirus, according to Amie Just and Ramon Antonio Vargas of NOLA.com.

Benson – who tested positive for COVID-19 within the last two weeks, per NOLA.com – is 73 years old, putting her at higher risk of being seriously affected by the virus. It’s not known what symptoms she’s experiencing, but Just and Vargas report that the Pelicans owner is under “daily medical care” and is recovering well.

Team spokesperson Greg Bensel said Benson was not hospitalized and hasn’t missed a Board of Governors call in recent days, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic.

While the NBA has done a great job avoiding an outbreak of COVID-19 within their Walt Disney World campus, only 13 teams are still in Orlando, and each of those clubs has a smaller traveling party than usual. So plenty of players, executives, coaches, owners, and other personnel around the league aren’t currently enjoying the benefits of the NBA’s Disney “bubble.”

Benson, who also owns the NFL’s New Orleans Saints, is at least the second NBA owner known to have contracted the coronavirus. Knicks owner James Dolan tested positive for COVID-19 back in March.

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