Cavs: Cedi Osman is newest UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, shows he’s committed to making a difference

Cleveland Cavaliers wing Cedi Osman was recently appointed as the newest Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF.

Cleveland Cavaliers wing Cedi Osman has always seemed to be one of the “good guys,” and that’s why many have been drawn to him. Osman is a player that teammates can rely on to pick up the morale of the squad, and that’s been evident for some time.

For me as a fan, that’s a plus to have that sort of thing on the Cavaliers/for the team’s dynamic. Osman, who has played three seasons with the Cavs, is clearly taking that “good guy” persona and building on it, too.

Osman was named as the newest Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, which was announced by Philippe Duamelle, the organization’s rep to Turkey, via virtual meeting on Thursday, per a press release and as transcribed by the Cavaliers.

Here was more on that, in relation to Osman’s statement after that appointment, via the Cavs release.

"“It is a dream come true to become a UNICEF National Ambassador,” said Osman. “It is a huge honor to be part of the UNICEF family. UNICEF has done tremendous work in Turkey and globally, I am looking forward to meeting as many children and young people as I can, hearing and sharing their stories. Sports unite people and give them hope. I will do my best to share my vision with children and youth to support them in fulfilling their dreams.”"

Here was more on what Osman’s role for UNICEF will be looking onward, and props to Cedi for his efforts off the floor, and continually during this time during the novel coronavirus pandemic, via the release and as h/t the Cavs website.

"“In his role as a UNICEF National Goodwill Ambassador, Cedi Osman will focus on youth engagement and sports. He will use his global platform and audience to help raise awareness of children’s rights and issues affecting youth. Participation in sport improves children’s educational attainment and skills development including empowerment, leadership and self-esteem – contributing to their overall well-being and prospects.Osman has been supporting UNICEF’s work since 2018, including field visits, the World Children’s Day, and more recently the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”"

This shows how the Cleveland Cavaliers wing is committed to making a difference.

This appointment shows Osman is committed to making a difference in the lives of young people, and as a Cavs fan, it’s really refreshing to know that Cedi is using his platform as an NBA player for the betterment of others.

This sets a positive example for some of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ youngest players, such as Darius Garland, Collin Sexton and Kevin Porter Jr.

I’d imagine the likes of Kevin Love, for example, in terms of his continued efforts to spread the importance of mental health, and other Cleveland vets are loving to hear this news regarding Cedi Osman and his work off the floor, too. As the release hit on, too, during this time amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Osman’s off-floor efforts in aiding young people are even more so meaningful.

Clearly, Cedi’s appointment as UNICEF’s newest Goodwill Ambassador shows his commitment to making a difference.

Osman, who has been heavily involved with Turkey’s national basketball team for quite some time, and previously before the Cavs, played for Anadolu Efes of the Turkish league, was actually “discovered by the Anadolu Efes scouts when he was 13.”

Moreover, it’s apparent that Osman understands how important sports are for young people, and this appointment further highlights that. So again, props to Cedi for this distinction, which is quite an honor, as he alluded to.

Osman, who is set to enter his fourth year with the Cleveland Cavaliers next season, had 11.0 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per outing in 2019-20 for the Wine and Gold.