Players pledge money to help NBA arena workers and support staff
Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert donated $500,000 to help arena staff during the NBA shutdown. Credit: AFP via Getty Images/GEORGE FREY
When Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, it triggered the suspension of the NBA season, and his careless behavior that preceded his test threw the entire league into chaos.
On the first day after the NBA enacted the policy that protected players by preventing reporters from entering the locker room, and before he tested positive, Gobert addressed the media at a news conference. A playful Gobert — trying to show that he wasn’t worried about contracting the coronavirus from reporters — went out of his way to touch their microphones and tape recorders. Teammates reportedly also were unhappy that he handled their possessions in the locker room.
Gobert subsequently apologized for that behavior, and on Saturday, he pledged donations of more than $500,000 to support the employee relief fund at Vivint Smart Home Arena and COVID-related social services relief in Utah, Oklahoma City and the French health care system.
Gobert may have been in the spotlight at the start of the process, but he was only the latest in a growing list of NBA teams and players to support the arena game-night and hourly employees who suddenly have no games to work — no security duty or ushers guiding patrons, no concession stands staffed or beer sold.
While the focus was on the players and teams when the NBA made the decision to suspend the season, the stoppage of at least 30 days was destined to have a larger effect on the unnoticed workers in the arenas.
Hours after the shutdown, Mavericks owner Mark Cuban announced that he would pay his employees. He also was exploring ways to turn it into help for the community by urging volunteer work from the workers.
At least 18 teams committed to offering help in the 48 hours since then, including the Lakers and Clippers (who will split the costs for Staples Center workers), the Nets, the Raptors, the Heat and the Hawks.
The Knicks are expected to follow suit, although taking care of all employees in various unions has been a complicated task with the Madison Square Garden Corporation, which includes the Knicks and Rangers as well as the Beacon Theater and Radio City Music Hall. A Madison Square Garden source said, “We’ve already taken immediate action this week and are working on a longer-term plan.”
Some of the games most notable players also have stepped into the void.
Kevin Love pledged $100,000 from his Kevin Love Foundation to support employees in Cleveland and Giannis Antetokounmpo promised the same for Milwaukee Bucks employees at Fiserv Forum.
“It’s bigger than basketball!” Antetokounmpo wrote on his Twitter account. “And during this tough time I want to help the people that make my life, my family’s lives and my teammates lives easier. Me and my family pledge to donate $100,000 to the Fiserv Forum staff. We can get through this together!”
Zion Williamson joined them, posting on Instagram how important the arena workers in New Orleans have been to him and offering to handle their salaries for 30 days.
“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,” Williamson wrote. “These are the folks who make our games possible, creating the perfect environment for our fans and everyone involved in the organization. Unfortunately, many of them are still recovering from long term challenges created by Katrina, and now face the economic impact of the postponement of games because of the virus.
“My mother has always set an example for me about being respectful for others and being grateful for what we have, and so today I am pledging to cover the salaries for all of those Smoothie King Center workers for the next 30 days. This is a small way for me to express my support and appreciation for these wonderful people who have been so great to me and my teammates and hopefully we can all join together to relieve some of the stress and hardship caused by this national health crisis. This is an incredibly resilient city full of some of the most resilient people, but sometimes providing a little extra assistance can make things a little easier for the community.”
Blake Griffin is pledging $100,00 and the Pistons will pick up the salaries of all of the game- night workers.
The Trail Blazers will pay the salaries for the remaining nine home games and will reassess what they can do after 30 days. The Bucks will match Antetokounmpo’s donation and all Bucks players’ donations.
The Warriors’ owners, players and coaches will make a donation of $1 million to aid arena employees. It also was announced Friday that the organization will create a community fund to which people can contribute to those affected by the shutdown of the NBA schedule and San Francisco’s ban on concerts and large assemblies. The money received by workers will be tax-free.
Steve Popper covers the Knicks for Newsday. He has spent nearly three decades covering the Knicks and the NBA, along with just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
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