'I ain't playing': LeBron James' stern warning to NBA over coronavirus fears

NBA star LeBron James has scoffed at suggestions that players could be forced to play in empty arenas due to coronavirus fears, saying he won't play if that is the case.

Amid increasing concerns surrounding the coronavirus outbreak, the NBA asked all 30 teams to essentially prepare to play games without fans in attendance, with attendees limited to "essential staff".

However, according to James, a four-time MVP of the league, that outcome isn't a possibility.

"We play games without the fans? Nah, that's impossible," James told reporters after the LA Lakers' win over the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday AEDT.

"I ain't playing if I ain't got fans in the crowd, that's who I play for. I play for my teammates and I play for the fans, that's what it's all about, so if I show up to an arena and there ain't no fans in there, I ain't playing.

"They can do what they want to do. I ain't never played in a game without no fans since I started playing ball. I don't give a damn.

"This ain't Europe. They can do what they want to do, go ahead."

According to a league memo acquired by ESPN, all 30 teams have been asked to develop processes for "communicating quickly and effectively with team and arena staff who are/aren't essential for this purpose."

In addition to James, Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker was also not keen on the idea of playing in empty arenas.

"That would be terrible," he said.

"That would be boring. They might as well cancel the whole game before that. That would suck. But at the end of the day, it is getting serious. I don't know. It would be very weird though for sure."

As of Saturday AEDT, the COVID-19 virus has infected around 95,000 people globally, and has caused over 3,200 fatalities, with 15 such deaths occurring in the United States.