Kevin Love, Cavaliers follow Mark Cuban's example, will aid workers affected by NBA shutdown

Tom Gatto

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Kevin Love, Cavaliers follow Mark Cuban's example, will aid workers affected by NBA shutdown image

More NBA teams and one prominent player pledged Thursday to help support workers who stand to lose wages while the league is suspended because of coronavirus.

They were following the lead of Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who told reporters Wednesday that he would put together a payment plan for the team's hourly workers.

CORONAVIRUS: Why the NBA suspended the season, and what might come next

The Cavaliers and forward Kevin Love were the most public with their intentions. First, the Cavs announced they would develop "a compensation plan to continue paying our event staff and hourly workforce that is impacted with the changes to our regular event schedule" at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse,

Love followed hours later with an Instagram post pledging $100,000 from his foundation to Cavs arena and support staff.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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

 

A Cavaliers spokesperson told ESPN's Dave McMenamin that "well over a thousand" people are employed at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse and the Canton (Ohio) Memorial Civic Center, where the Cavs' G League affiliate plays.

Hawks majority owner Tony Ressler told The Athletic that his team would follow Cuban's example and pay workers.

"We are indeed and feel strongly it’s both the right thing to do and good business," Ressler wrote in an e-mail to reporter Bill Shea.

McMenamin reported that other NBA teams are developing similar plans.

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday that the league would suspend play for at least 30 days in response to the global coronavirus outbreak.

Tom Gatto

Tom Gatto Photo

Tom Gatto joined The Sporting News as a senior editor in 2000 after 12 years at The Herald-News in Passaic, N.J., where he served in a variety of roles including sports editor, and a brief spell at APBNews.com in New York, where he worked as a syndication editor. He is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Carolina.