In response to the NBA suspending the current season due to novel coronavirus concerns after the Utah Jazz’s Rudy Gobert tested positive for it, Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love is donating $100,000 through his fund to help out employees at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. That’s amazing to see from Love, who really stepped up.
The season for the Cleveland Cavaliers and other NBA teams has been suspended due to medical concerns after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for novel coronavirus on Wednesday, and on Thursday, it was also reported that Gobert’s Jazz teammate, Donovan Mitchell, also tested positive for COVID-19, per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
No other players/staff on the Jazz tested positive out of the 58 administered, though, according to a report from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium. Considering the Cleveland Cavaliers played Utah last Monday, and the Cavs were one of the teams that played Gobert/Utah within 10 days following the time of Gobert testing positive, Cleveland was told to self-quarantine, according to a report from ESPN’s Brian Windhorst (and h/t ESPN’s Tisha Thompson).
As far as other reported details/background/salary cap/potential league implications, you can view most of those here.
Along with that, in terms of potential length of postponement, Wojnarowski reported that NBA owners are essentially urging NBA commissioner Adam Silver to “re-evaluate the league’s suspension in 30 days,” and that the NBA is “expected to make a formal announcement on an initial timetable soon.”
Silver then confirmed on an appearance with NBA on TNT then that games will be suspended probably “at least 30 days.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver discusses the timetable for the league’s suspension. pic.twitter.com/tterVvR29r
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) March 13, 2020
At this point, we are not certain as to what the impact will be in terms of the postseason/draft, but again, we’ll keep our eyes peeled for Woj updates, and for now, you can view the reported details via the link above.
More from King James Gospel
- 3 possible starting lineups for Cleveland Cavaliers in 2023-24
- The Cavaliers may have snagged a hidden gem in Craig Porter Jr.
- 4 players the Cavaliers should pursue in 2024 free agency
- 6 players Cavaliers might replace Jarrett Allen with by the trade deadline
- This stat is one to keep an eye on for Cavaliers’ Max Strus in years ahead
Additionally, Wojnarowski reported on Thursday that a flight with the Jazz on it landed back in Salt Lake City, and for now, it’s unclear as to whether or not Gobert and Mitchell were on that.
In relation to the Cavaliers, the team announced that nobody on the Cavs/their staff has had any COVID-19 symptoms on Thursday, h/t Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, and given the lack of availability of tests at this time, the Cavs aren’t being tested. Fedor himself also tweeted that he was told to self-quarantine for the next 14 days.
What about the game staff at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse, though, you ask, given the league’s suspension, and I’d assume in relation to the Mid-American Conference tournaments for both men and women being cancelled (and the NCAA cancelled all remaining winter and spring championships, for reference), among other RMF events?
It was incredible to hear that Cleveland Cavaliers big man Kevin Love is donating $100,000 to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse employees/staff that make the game experience so outstanding. Love announced that we was making that donation to the RMF employees/staff through the Kevin Love Fund via his Instagram, and again, this is awesome news in a really tough time right now.
As shown above in Love’s post, he’s trying to set an example for others to help out those that are being affected by COVID-19, in relation to cancellations of events/gatherings, and his comments shed light on the mental side of things and how this is “not just a medical phenomenon.”
To reiterate and highlight Love’s contribution, here’s how he’s planning to help RMF employees in response to the NBA postponing the rest of the 2019-20 season.
"“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.”"
Love has done an exceptional job of spreading awareness of the importance of mental health for quite some time now, and this gesture was amazing to see in this ever-difficult time.
Plus, as the Cleveland Cavaliers and realistically, owner Dan Gilbert, are doing their part, as the Wine and Gold announced how they’ll compensating the RMF “hourly and event staff team members” as was set to be the case.
https://twitter.com/cavs/status/1238246418160197633?s=20
It was also very good news to hear on ESPN’s “Get Up” how Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban is going to put a compensation plan in place for the hourly employees at American Airlines Center where the Mavs play their home games, and he also hit on how the Mavs will seemingly seek to help out smaller businesses that are affected by COVID-19.
"We have a program where the next four would-have-been Mavs games, we'll pay our hourly employees as if they worked."
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) March 12, 2020
—Mark Cuban pic.twitter.com/Fmmj3vETUB
Atlanta Hawks owner Tony Ressler is going to compensate the employees/game event staff at State Farm Arena, the Hawks arena, as well, per a report from The Athletic‘s Bill Shea (subscription required).
Swinging back to Love, though, his donation was truly an extraordinary way to help out those affected, and he continues to utilize his NBA platform for the betterment of others, too.
As a side note, up until the league’s suspension on Wednesday, Love was really playing well as of late (outside of a close loss to the Chicago Bulls on Tuesday).
In his last eight games, Love averaged 18.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game, according to NBA.com, and he has played a crucial role in the Cavs being very competitive post-All-Star break, in which the team was looking re-energized with J.B. Bickerstaff taking over as head coach.
Moreover, I’m glad that Gilbert and the Cleveland Cavaliers are doing the right thing in relation to the Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse staff.
Again, this is really great stuff also from K-Love, too, and it is making so many I’m sure very happy as a result.
Props to you, Kev!