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Celebrity1 min(s) read
Published 17:08 19 Mar 2020 GMT
The coronavirus pandemic has left millions of people around the world without work. This has made a difficult situation even harder for some of the world's hardest workers.
Now, following the suspension of the NBA, its players have come together to cover the lost wages of arena workers amid the coronavirus.
Per Good Morning America (GMA), on March 11, the announcement was made by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver that all games would be suspended for at least 30 days.
This man revealed his symptoms of coronavirus:
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One of the first players to pledge his support for the workers this suspension has left out of pocket was Kevin Love, a power forward for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
He pledged his support on Instagram and said the hoped others would be inspired to support their communities.
"I'm concerned about the level of anxiety that everyone is feeling and that is why I'm committing $100,000," Love wrote on Instagram.
"Be kind to one another," Love wrote. "I encourage everyone to take care of themselves and to reach out to others in need."
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This act of kindness inspired other NBA players to do the same thing to help arena workers during this difficult time.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, a forward for the Milwaukee Bucks and reigning NBA MVP, wrote on Twitter: "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 [sic] lives easier.
"Me and my family pledge to donate $100,000 to the Fiserv Forum staff. We can get through this together!"
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Another player, Zion Williamson, a forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, said that his donation was his way of giving back to the city of New Orleans.
"My mother has always set an example for me about being respectful for others and being grateful for what we have," Williamson wrote. "So today I am pledging to cover the salaries for all of those Smoothie King Center workers for the next 30 days."
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The first NBA player to test positive for the coronavirus, Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert, is also donating to the cause. He has offered up $500,000 to pay the wages of part-time workers at the Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City.
Some of the money will also be given to families specifically affected by the disease.
"I know there are countless ways that people have been impacted," Gobert said, per GMA. "These donations are a small token that reflect my appreciation and support for all those impacted and are the first of many steps I will take to try and make a positive difference, while continuing to learn more about COVID-19 and educate others."
At the time of writing, a minimum of seven NBA players have tested positive for the coronavirus including Gobert, Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell, Detroit Pistons center Christian Wood and four members of the Brooklyn Nets. In an interview with The Athletic, Kevin Durant said he was one of them.