The number of NBA players donating money to arena workers in the wake of the season being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic continues to grow.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Zion Williamson and Blake Griffin are among the high profile stars who joined Kevin Love in making substantial contributions to arena staff who are missing out on crucial paychecks.
‘It’s bigger than basketball! And during this tough time I want to help the people that make my life, my family’s lives and my teammates lives easier,’ Antetokounmpo, of the Milwaukee Bucks, shared on Twitter on Thursday.
The reigning league MVP added, ‘Me and my family pledge to donate $100,000 to the Fiserv Forum staff. We can get through this together!’
Williamson, the much-heralded New Orleans Pelicans rookie, also shared some incredibly kind words about the workers when he announced his contribution.
‘These are the folks who make our games possible, creating the perfect environment for our fans and everyone involved in the organization,’ the 2019 overall number one college pick wrote on Twitter.
‘This is a small way for me to express my support and appreciation for these wonderful people who have been so great to me and my teammates and hopefully we can all join together to relieve some of the stress and hardship caused by this national health crisis.’
Griffin also pledged to donate $100,000 to help compensate the workers at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, where the Pistons play.
Earlier in the day, Love also took to Instagram to announce his $100,000 donation through his foundation to the support staff at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland.
‘Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. And the fear and anxiety resulting from the recent outbreak of COVID-19 can be extremely overwhelming,’ Love began in his post that also included a photo of himself in a suit surrounded by workers in hard hats, among others..
‘Through the game of basketball, we’ve been able to address major issues and stand together as a progressive league that cares about the players, the fans, and the communities where we work,’ he continued.
Previously Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made a similar pledge for his hourly workers.
Kevin Love donates $100,000 to Cleveland Cavaliers arena staff after the NBA season was suspend
The Cavaliers had 17 remaining regular season games before the league announced its hiatus on Wednesday. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has not announced whether the regular season will continue when the suspension ends, or if the NBA playoffs will begin using the current standings to determine seeding.
Silver said the hiatus will likely last at least 30 days, if not more.
Helping hand: Just a day after the National Basketball Association (NBA) suspended their regular season, Cleveland Cavaliers star Kevin Love stepped up to help the staff at the arena he plays in
Basketball: ‘Through the game of basketball, we’ve been able to address major issues and stand together as a progressive league that cares about the players, the fans, and the communities where we work,’ he continued
Reacts: ‘Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. And the fear and anxiety resulting from the recent outbreak of COVID-19 can be extremely overwhelming,’ Love began
‘I’m concerned about the level of anxiety that everyone is feeling and that is why I’m committing $100,000 through the @KevinLoveFund in support of the @Cavs arena and support staff that had a sudden life shift due to the suspension of the NBA season,’ Love revealed, adding that he hopes, ‘others will join me in supporting our communities.’
Love added that, ‘Pandemics are not just a medical phenomenon. They affect individuals and society on so many levels, with stigma and xenophobia being just two aspects of the impact of a pandemic outbreak.’
‘It’s important to know that those with a mental illness may be vulnerable to the effects of widespread panic and threat. Be kind to one another. Be understanding of their fears, regardless if you don’t feel the same,’ he added.
‘Be safe and make informed decisions during this time. And I encourage everyone to take care of themselves and to reach out to others in need — whether that means supporting your local charities that are canceling events, or checking in on your colleagues and family,’ Love concluded.
The Cavaliers organization also released a statement on Thursday, revealing they were, ‘developing a compensation plan to continue paying our event staff and hourly workforce that is impacted by the changes to our regular event schedule.
Love has played in the NBA for 12 seasons, first with the Minnesota Timberwolves, who drafted him out of UCLA, and then with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Safe: ‘Be safe and make informed decisions during this time. And I encourage everyone to take care of themselves and to reach out to others in need — whether that means supporting your local charities that are canceling events, or checking in on your colleagues and family,’ Love concluded
As he indicated in his Instagram post, Love has long been an advocate for mental health, opening up about his struggles after suffering a panic attack during a November 2017 game.
Love’s donation to the Cavaliers arena staff came through his Kevin Love Fund, which, ‘strives to inspire people to live their healthiest lives while providing the tools to achieve physical and emotional well being.’
The fund has benefited organizations such as Bring Change to Mind, Matthew McConaughey’s Just Keep Livin’ Foundation, and the UCLA Athletics Department.
Kate and Kevin: As he indicated in his Instagram post, Love has long been an advocate for mental health, opening up about his struggles after suffering a panic attack during a November 2017 game
Mental health: Love’s donation to the Cavaliers arena staff came through his Kevin Love Fund, which, ‘strives to inspire people to live their healthiest lives while providing the tools to achieve physical and emotional well being’