Following the indefinite suspension of the NBA 2019/20 season, the NBA is continuing to put into place a series of measures to ensure its global efforts are felt, the latest being an 'NBA Together' campaign.
The league is utilising its vast digital footprint and powerful online presence to promote important advice through the voices of the NBA family, including teams, players, coaches, and doctors. NBA Together is a global community and social engagement campaign to support, engage, educate and inspire fans and families, both young and old, on the seriousness of the coronavirus pandemic.
The program intends to keep awareness high whilst also ensuring levels of panic remain under control with the use of the four pillars - Know the Facts, Acts of Caring, Expand Your Community and NBA Together Live. Amplifying the latest, most reliable, global health and safety information, and guidelines and resources.
Keeping people and communities socially connected through digital tools and virtual events is an important element in ensuring everyone copes as best they can with the impact of the pandemic.
This past week, 18 NBA and WNBA players have created public service announcement videos to share the word on important health and wellness information about preventing the spread of the virus. The engagement has surpassed 37 million views over the NBA's social media platforms.
As part of NBA Together, the league has committed to contributing and raising over $50 million to support those heavily impacted by Covid-19, including community and healthcare organisations around the world. This also includes more than $30 million financial commitment already made by NBA and WNBA teams and players to date.
Know the Facts
The NBA has launched its Coronavirus Information For NBA Fans webpage, updated daily with content and links to provide global fans with the latest information in their regions. The site includes resources to reduce coronavirus risk with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), World Health Organization (WHO), former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy and local and federal health experts.
Acts of Caring
Aimed at emphasising the power of community and volunteerism during the pandemic, the "Acts of Caring" initiative is inspiring 1 million big and small acts of kindness. Players, fans and the general public are encouraged to share ways they are supporting friends, families and communities by posting photos and videos alongside #NBATogether on social media.
Visit cares.nba.com/actsofcaring to learn more.
Expand Your Community
Although social distancing can be difficult on community spirit and fitness levels, the NBA is encouraging fans to support each other through content, activities and virtual engagement.
Included under this initiative is the launch of "Jr. NBA at Home," new interactive content series for young people who are currently unable to play with their friends and teammates, but still want to be active, work on their game and connect with the NBA. Daily posts can be found on the @jrnba social media channels.
The NBA has also vowed to engage education and wellness partners such as Scholastic Inc., Discovery Education, and NBA Math Hoops, to promote adapted resources catered for parents adapting to home-learning. NBA personalities and educators will create short virtual lessons that will make learning at home fun.
NBA Together Live
Every weekday at 3:00 p.m. ET a member of the NBA family will live stream on Instagram, taking questions from fans or engage with an NBA broadcast talent. Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love tips off the series, which begins today.
Additionally, the league will stream classic games on NBA social platforms including Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Twitch. Catch the Feb. 27, 2016 Warriors @ Thunder game tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET. This news follows the NBA's earlier announcement offering a free preview of the NBA League Pass until April 22.
The NBA is doing everything in its power to be "bigger than basketball" through the efforts of its teams, players and the wider fan-base during this particularly distressing time for many.