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The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread throughout the NBA -- the Philadelphia 76ers just announced 3 members of the organization have tested POSITIVE for COVID-19.

It's worth noting -- the team has NOT specified whether any players have tested positive -- but in a statement released on Thursday, the Sixers say, players, coaches and basketball operations employees within the organization have been tested ... and 3 came back positive.

Here's the team statement ... "The Philadelphia 76ers, in consultation with medical experts and the NBA, received the recommendation that certain individuals from the organization, including players, coaches and specific basketball operations support staff, be tested for COVID-19."

"The tests were secured and processed privately."

The statement continues ... "Three individuals have received positive test results for COVID-19. All other test results are currently negative. We have reported this information to state and local health authorities as required."

The Sixers say the 3 people who tested positive are practicing self-isolation and will work with experts to get better.

The news comes on the heels of the Denver Nuggets reporting a member of their org. tested positive for coronavirus ... as well as Kevin Durant, Detriot Pistons' Christian Woods, Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell testing positive last week.

Coronavirus has officially infiltrated the NFL ... with New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton revealing he tested positive for COVID-19.

56-year-old Payton came forward with the info to ESPN on Thursday. Payton says he started feeling under the weather on Sunday and got tested Monday. Payton says he has no fever and no cough and expects to make a full recovery.

Payton told ESPN he came forward because "he wants all people to heed the warnings of government officials, stay inside, and behave responsibly."

The craziest part ... over the weekend, Payton was at a horse racing event at Oaklawn Park in Arkansas talking with a TVG reporter ... ABOUT CORONAVIRUS! And, he was definitely NOT social distancing!!!!

Payton told ESPN's Adam Schefter, "This is not just about social distancing. It's shutting down here for a week to two weeks."

"If people understand the curve, and understand the bump, we can easily work together as a country to reduce it. Take a minute to understand what the experts are saying."

"It's not complicated to do what they're asking of us. Just that type of small investment by every one of us will have a dramatic impact."

In the past week, multiple high-profile people have been diagnosed with the virus -- from Kevin Durant to Tom Hanks, Rudy Gobert, Idris Elba, Prince Albert of Monaco and more.

The NFL has canceled multiple events due to the pandemic -- including the 2020 NFL Draft which was set to go down next month in Las Vegas.

So far, the league has NOT planned on pushing back the start of the 2020 NFL season.

Story developing ...

The BIG3 won't let a national emergency keep America from getting some 3-on-3 action ... 'cause Ice Cube's league is reportedly planning to host a QUARANTINED TOURNAMENT!!!

The plan, according to Yahoo! Sports, is to broadcast a "reality show-style" event starring 16 to 22 ex-NBA stars who have tested NEGATIVE for COVID-19 and agree to be quarantined in L.A.

The players selected to play will reportedly be placed in a huge house leading up to the competition ... and anyone who breaks quarantine will be eliminated from playing.

The players' lives will be documented 'Real World' style ... focusing on the drama and daily interactions among the BIG3 talent.

As for the tourney ... the league is planning a 7-round competition with players shuffling between teams ... and each player will be eliminated after 3 individual losses.

And, oh yeah ... there will be MILLIONS of dollars on the line.

BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz released a statement to Y!S ... saying, "As long as we can protect the players, which we will do through proper testing and quarantine, Ice Cube and I feel we can give fans some safe, entertaining brand of basketball to get everyone through this pandemic."

"Cube and I have been in the entertainment business for 30 years. This is our job. People want to be entertained with all we’re going through and enjoy our sports. We think this will help."

Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield is stepping up to help the less fortunate during the coronavirus pandemic ... pledging a big chunk of change to the local food bank -- and he's calling for others to follow his lead.

Bake -- alongside his wife, Emily -- announced they're donating $50K to the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to help put food on the table for folks who are struggling to make ends meet during the crisis.

"Cleveland has always been the underdog, but we're also known for our hustle and our true grit," Emily said on Instagram. "So, it's time for us to rally together and show everyone how we can come together for our fellow Clevelanders."

Bake added ... "It's a point for us that we wanna give back, we wanna help out any way we can. Even if you guys can't help out, a dollar, five dollars, 10 dollars, goes a long way."

But, it doesn't stop there -- all the donations that come in will be matched up to $150K!!

The donations will help out big time -- each dollar helps provide 8 meals to those in need, so the Mayfields' gesture goes a long way.

Baker isn't the only Cleveland sports star helping out -- Kevin Love donated $100K to help pay the Rocket Mortage FieldHouse employees during the NBA's suspension.

Gimme an S! Gimme an A! Gimme a D! What's that spell? SAD!!!!!!!

Navarro College cheer coach Monica Aldama -- star of Netflix's uber-popular show, "Cheer" -- is speaking out after the national championship competition was canceled due to COVID-19 ... and it's heartbreaking.

For the few who haven't watched the show ... Navarro cheer is essentially the Tom Brady-era Patriots of the cheer world -- the Bulldogs compete for the national title every year and they're good as hell.

But, Navarro won't be able to defend its 2019 title in Daytona due to the coronavirus pandemic ... and Monica is absolutely devastated.

"This decision was inevitable as things have progressed and our country is in uncertain times," Monica says. "My heart, however, is breaking for the lost memories and the lost time with my beautiful team. I was not ready to say goodbye so quickly."

"I was not mentally prepared for the team to turn in uniforms, pack their things and leave town."

Monica praises her team for their work ethic ... saying their routine was "so beautiful."

"For the first time in my life I had no control and my life has been a roller coaster over the past week. What I do know is that we will be back better than ever!!!"

The silver lining -- you can watch the first season of "Cheer" all you want during self-isolation ... so yay??

What do you do when you've got the urge to play tennis ... but you're stuck in the apartment self-quarantining??

Simple ... you put half your body out the window and volley with your neighbor!!!

**WARNING -- DON'T ACTUALLY DO THIS! WE DON'T WANT YOU TO FALL OUT OF YOUR WINDOW**

The creativity is in full force with most of the world practicing social distancing ... with folks hosting happy hour via FaceTime and celebs making cringe renditions of "Imagine," by John Lennon.

The video of the 2 creative dudes playing quarantine tennis is spreading like wildfire ... and may inspire some more sports being altered for the times -- how can we make quarantine basketball work??

Look, without pro sports right now, we might as well set up a few cameras and live stream these competitions on the internet ... 'cause this whole self-isolation thing whomps.

The Monaco Grand Prix -- one of the most famous F1 races in the world -- has been postponed ... hours after Prince Albert tested positive for COVID-19.

FIA -- the body that oversees Formula 1 -- made the announcement Thursday that it was pulling the plug on THREE major races ... the Dutch, Spanish and Monaco Grand Prix.

Officials say the decision was made "in order to ensure the health and safety of the traveling staff, championship participants and fans, which remains our primary concern."

FIA says it is studying the "viability of potential alternative dates for each Grand Prix later in the year should the situation improve."

"Formula 1 and the FIA expect to begin the 2020 championship season as soon as it's safe to do so after May and will continue to regularly monitor the ongoing COVID-19 situation."

The Monaco Grand Prix was originally scheduled for May 24th.

Quarantine class got a whole lot better for some 1st graders in Georgia this week ... 'cause Shaquille O'Neal popped in their video lesson to say hi -- and everyone freaked out!!

TMZ Sports has learned the Big Diesel is a family friend of a student at East Lake Elementary in McDonough, GA ... and with the kids in isolation over coronavirus fears, Shaq decided to brighten their day.

The students were doing a lesson over FaceTime ... when O'Neal shockingly popped up on the screen.

The NBA legend said hello to the teacher -- who said, stunned, "Is that Shaq?!" -- and kids and parents on the call all began losing their minds.

You can see in the clip ... dads, moms and students all grabbed their phones to snap video -- all with priceless looks on their faces!!

We're told Shaq stayed on for a few minutes ... saying hi to everyone in the chat -- with one parent telling us, "It was really cool."

It's an awesome gesture from Shaq -- because some kids are struggling with the effects of school closures and quarantines all over the country.

Australia's most prestigious pro rugby league is combating the coronavirus pandemic ... by appointing a special BALL WASHER to keep things clean on the field.

The problem??? The rest of the players are smothering each other!!

It all went down Thursday in Sydney -- where the North Queensland Cowboys took on the  Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium.

Officials in Australia have outlawed public gatherings of more than 500 people -- so the National Rugby League (NRL) decided to push forward with games ... with limited people in attendance.

In total, there were 241 people at the stadium (including the players) so the game was allowed to take place.

Still, a disturbing sight to see the players sweating, breathing and bleeding on each other with the global COVID-19 pandemic in full swing.

After the game, the players were seen hugging family members in the stands -- another big NO-NO according to some health experts.

Another bizarre (yet necessary) scene ... the Olympic Torch Handover ceremony went down in Athens, Greece on Thursday -- with ZERO fans allowed at Panathenaic Stadium.

In fact, Japan reportedly contacted little-known former Olympic swimmer Naoko Imoto to represent the country ... since the athlete was already living in Greece.

The original plan was to have a massive star-studded event for the flame-passing tradition -- but with the coronavirus pandemic in full swing, organizers wanted as few people involved as possible.

So, Japan contacted former Olympic swimmer Naoko Imoto, who was already living in Greece, to represent the host country. The 43-year-old agreed and she was all smiles on Thursday.

There were flags, there was a stage -- but absolutely NO fans at the venue. Super weird.

FYI, Naoko swam in the 800-meter relay in the '96 Games in Atlanta.

Now, the flame will be transported from Athens to Japan, for another scaled-down ceremony at a military base on Friday.

Japan insists the 2020 Tokyo Games will go on as planned -- despite the fact most of the world is in quarantine.