Following the NBA season's suspension due to the coronavirus pandemic, several players are stepping up to aid the arena workers unable to work and facing the loss of wages as games have been canceled. Notably, Zion Williamson, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Blake Griffin, and Kevin Love are pledging to cover salaries for those affected.
Yesterday, the rising New Orleans Pelicans rookie, Zion Williamson took to Instagram hat he will cover the salaries of Smoothie King Center workers for the next 30 days. The 19-year-old wrote, "the people of New Orleans have been incredibly welcoming and supportive since I was drafted by the Pels last June, and some of the most special people I have met are those who work at Smoothie King Center. These are the folks who make our games possible."
Read his full statement below.
Earlier this week, Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo announced that he will donate $100,000 to those who work at the team's Fiserv Forum. "During this tough time I want to help the people that make my life, my family’s lives and my teammates' lives easier," he wrote on Twitter.
Kevin Love and Blake Griffin stated that they will be doing the same for workers during the canceled season at their teams' respective Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse and Little Caesars Arena.
In the light of these generous donations, many are questioning the teams' and the league's inaction. In response to this, Love told ESPN "My hope is that others will step up!"
