Kevin Love donates $100,000 to support Cleveland Cavaliers' hourly arena employees after NBA play is suspended due to coronavirus concerns

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  • Kevin Love is committing $100,000 from his foundation to support Cleveland Cavaliers hourly arena employees whose livelihoods have been affected by the NBA's stoppage in response to the coronavirus.
  • Love said of his donation, "I hope that during this time of crisis, others will join me in supporting our communities."
  • Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made a similar commitment on Wednesday night, saying the team had put a plan in place to support their hourly workers while the league is suspended.
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Kevin Love is committing $100,000 from his foundation to support Cleveland Cavaliers hourly workers whose livelihoods have been affected by the NBA's decision to suspend play in response to the coronavirus.

You can see Love's post in full below.

View this post on Instagram

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. And the fear and anxiety resulting from the recent outbreak of COVID-19 can be extremely overwhelming. 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. 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. I hope that during this time of crisis, others will join me in supporting our communities. 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. 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.

A post shared by Kevin Love (@kevinlove) on

Charlotte Hornets big man Cody Zeller also emphasized the importance of taking care of the NBA's hourly workers on social media.

"We all have fun playing and watching NBA games, but many of our hard-working hourly employees and support staff depend on wages from our home games," Zeller wrote in a tweet late Wednesday night. "We're going to make sure that they're taken care of! Even if I have to pay out of pocket to help out."

The NBA halted play on Wednesday night after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for the virus.

While the move changes the shape of the season in terms of basketball, it also affects the lives of thousands of hourly workers in stadiums and arenas across the league, many of whom depend on packed games to earn a living through the season.

On Wednesday night, Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban made a similar commitment to Love, saying that the franchise had already been working on a plan to support their hourly workers while the season was in limbo.

"I reached out to the folks at the arena and our folks at the Mavs to find out what it would cost to financially support people who aren't going to be able to come to work — you know, they get paid by the hour, and this is their source of income," Cuban said.

"We'll do some things there. We may ask them to go do some volunteer work in exchange, but we've already started the process of having a program in place. I don't have any details to give, but it's certainly something that's important to me."

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