Published 11:55 IST, March 24th 2020
Kyrie Irving honours Kobe by donating $323,000, 250K meals to COVID-19-affected families
Kyrie Irving's Kobe Bryant tribute: The Brooklyn Nets star will be donating $323,000 and 250,000 meals to help people deal with the coronavirus outbreak.
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Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving will be donating $323,000 to Feeding America along with Lineage Logistics, who will put in $200,000 of its own to help people deal with the coronavirus outbreak. Kyrie Irving will also team up with City Harvest to donate 250,000 meals in New York. Kyrie Irving shared details of his donations via an Instagram post made on his birthday, i.e. March 23.
Kyrie Irving donates: Irving's donation also a tribute to Kobe Bryant?
On IG, @KyrieIrving announces $323k donation to @FeedingAmerica.
— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) March 23, 2020
Why $323k? Today (3/23) is Kyrie's birthday. Also, I'm told, because 3+2+3=8, in honor of @kobebryant. pic.twitter.com/klue3hpHoQ
Irving has been known to be a Bryant fan. He has collaborated with Bryant for one of signature shoes and FaceTimed him immediately after he won his first NBA title. With his donation, Irving honours Bryant while also using the date of his own birthday.
Kyrie Irving donates: Kyrie Irving shares details via Instagram on his birthday
Kyrie Irving donates: Kyrie Irving will donate meals to help people affected by COVID-19
In his post, Kyrie Irving revealed that he will be teaming up with Feeding America and Lineage Logistics to create the Share A Meal campaign. The benefits will be for 'marginalized' communities to get the necessary food items they require. Irving added the donation link to his bio, asking everyone to contribute in any way they can.
Also read | Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant: Kevin Durant defends fellow Brooklyn Nets teammate Kyrie Irving on Twitter
Kyrie Irving donates: NBA world comes together to donate during coronavirus outbreak
Warriors ownership, players and coaches to contribute $1 million to disaster relief fund for Chase Center employees pic.twitter.com/42nYAalO9t
— Warriors PR (@WarriorsPR) March 14, 2020
Along with Kyrie Irving, various other NBA players and teams have pledged to donate amid the coronavirus crisis. Players like Kevin Love, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Zion Williamson donated individually, while Steph Curry donated along with the Warriors, who donated $1 million to Chase Center's sister fund. Team owners like Mark Cuban will also be taking an initiative to pay workers employed at the arenas on an hourly basis.
The NBA season was suspended on March 11 after Utah Jazz's Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. Currently, there are 10 confirmed NBA players with coronavirus. Since CDC has advised against a gathering of 50 or more people for at least two months, the NBA season could resume mid-June and go on till August.
11:55 IST, March 24th 2020