NBA Launches Global "NBA Together" Campaign In Response to Coronavirus Pandemic
While the coronavirus pandemic has suspended the 2019-20 NBA
season, it has not lessened the league's global impact and reach. Over the past
week, 18 NBA and WNBA players created public service announcement videos to
share important health and wellness information about ways to reduce the spread
of the coronavirus. Those videos have generated more than 37 million views
across the league's social media accounts.
The league is using its vast digital footprint and the
powerful voices of teams, players, coaches, doctors and others across the NBA
family to launch "NBA
Together" - a global community and social engagement campaign that
aims to support, engage, educate and inspire youth, families and fans in
response to the coronavirus pandemic.
The program is centered on four pillars – Know the Facts,
Acts of Caring, Expand Your Community and NBA Together Live – that will amplify
the latest global health and safety information, share guidelines and
resources, and keep people and communities socially connected through digital
tools and virtual events as everyone copes with the impact of the pandemic.
As part of NBA Together, the NBA family is committed to
contributing and helping raise more than $50 million to support people impacted
by the coronavirus and community and healthcare organizations providing vital
services around the world, which includes the more than $30 million financial
commitment already made by NBA and WNBA teams and players to date.
Know the Facts
This week, the NBA launched its Coronavirus
Information For NBA Fans webpage, which is updated daily with content
and links to provide global fans the latest information on developments in
their regions and how they can best protect themselves and others from the
virus. The site features 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.
The NBA and WNBA will continue to use the influential voices
of players, coaches and legends through public service announcements to inform
fans on the best ways to stay safe and healthy in both their body and mind as
the world faces the rapidly changing and evolving pandemic.
Acts of Caring
The "Acts of
Caring" initiative looks to shine a light on the power of community
and volunteerism by inspiring 1 million big and small acts of kindness. The NBA
is calling on players, fans and the general public to share ways they are
supporting friends, families and communities by posting photos and videos with
the hashtag #NBATogether on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok. These acts
can include teaching virtual classes, buying groceries for neighbors in need or
donating supplies. Visit cares.nba.com/actsofcaring to
learn more.
Expand Your Community
During this time of social distancing, the NBA is
encouraging fans to expand their communities through content, activities and
virtual engagement in an effort to stay physically and mentally healthy and
active.
This includes the launch of "Jr. NBA at Home,"
a 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. The program features at-home basketball
skills and drills that promote physical activity and character development and
can be completed individually and in limited space. It also includes curated
content and messages from NBA and WNBA players to inspire boys and girls around
the world to stay active in a healthy and safe way. The program will feature daily posts on the @jrnba social media
channels (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) and NBA digital properties across the
globe, and integration with NBA technology partner and mobile basketball
training application HomeCourt.
In addition to "Jr. NBA at Home," the NBA will
engage education and wellness partners, such as Scholastic
Inc., Discovery
Education, and NBA Math Hoops,
to promote existing resources for students and parents that have been adapted
for at-home learning. NBA personalities and educators will create short virtual
lessons that will make learning at home fun.
And in an effort to combat the higher levels of anxiety and
stress during these uncertain times, the NBA, in partnership with Headspace, will provide mental
wellness and resiliency resources and tools to encourage fans to be mindful of
their mental wellness and the wellbeing of those around them.
NBA Together Live
Every weekday at 3:00 p.m. EST a member of the NBA family
will engage with fans globally, participating in a live interview with NBA
broadcast talent or taking questions from fans on Instagram live. Cleveland
Cavaliers forward Kevin Love will tip off the series beginning today. Additionally, every night
the NBA will stream classic games on NBA social platforms including Twitter,
Facebook, YouTube and Twitch. Tune
in tonight at 8:00 p.m. ET to catch the Feb. 27, 2016 Warriors @ Thunder game.
To further help NBA fans stay connected with their favorite
players and teams, the NBA partnered with Turner Sports to offer a free preview
of NBA League Pass, the league’s premium subscription-based product, until
April 22. This complimentary offering features
access to full length and condensed replays of all games from the 2019-20
season, as well as an expansive archive of classic games and content. Fans can
redeem this free offer by signing into their NBA account through NBA.com or the
NBA App on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Android mobile and tablet devices, Android
TV, Amazon Fire TV, Roku, Xbox One, PlayStation 4 and other supported devices.
The phrase “bigger than basketball” is often used when
discussing the efforts of a player or team to make a positive impact in their
community. The response to this global pandemic is the epitome of “bigger than
basketball” as the NBA looks to do its part to help people across the globe
come together and work through these tough times.
By Brian Martin, NBA.com
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