The news constantly runs with streaming updates about NBA games in headlines, and even in times of crisis, sports are still just as likely to be reported on. Instead of basketball, which many in the nation use as an escape, these running headlines are now dominated not by score updates but instead by updates on COVID-19 that continues to spread. 

With rising panic over what this pandemic will leave us with, NBA players and employees are just as shocked as fans about the suspension of this NBA season after Utah Jazz center, Rudy Gobert tested positive for the Coronavirus.

While the decision was made to keep those affected players, management, doctors, etc safe, what most people aren’t taking into account are hourly workers who will be most affected by this sudden halt. Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has publicly said he plans on putting a program into place that will take care of concession workers and others on hourly pay, who will lose hours on the clock and a source of income due to the shutdown of both the season and the arena.

With other celebrities such as Tom Hanks speaking out about his diagnosis, it’s important to remember that although this is a tragedy for many, it’s also a time to band together and not shame anyone for something so far beyond our control.