Sixers’ Joel Embiid to donate $500,000 for coronavirus relief, was set to help team employees

Joel Embiid is stepping up.

The 76ers center has decided to donate $500,000 to the COVID-19 medical relief to help survival and protection efforts in the community. The three-time All-Star was also going to help at-will Sixers employees, who were expected to temporarily have their salaries reduced.

But Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment, which owns the Sixers and New Jersey Devils, reversed their Monday’s decision for at-will employees for both teams making more than $50,000 were informed Monday of temporary salary reductions of up to 20%. The reductions were set for April 15 through June 30. HBSE was looking to recoup some of its lost revenue because of the coronavirus pandemic and the uncertainty of the NBA and NHL’s suspended seasons.

Sixers managing partner Josh Harris and co-managing partner David Blitzer are the cochairmen of HBSE.

All NBA games were suspended March 11. League commissioner Adam Silver announced the next day that play would be suspended for at least 30 days. However, the NBA might not resume until June at the earliest.

Globally, there have been around 384,000 confirmed coronavirus cases and 16,600 deaths. There are about 46,600 confirmed cases and 600 deaths in the United States.

The Sixers announced Thursday that three members of the organization have tested positive for COVID-19. The three tests brought the NBA’s number of coronavirus cases to at least 14.

Then on Tuesday, former NBA player Jason Collins revealed that he tested positive. He asked for people to say safe and continue to social distance. The 41-year-old also every single health-care workers. He labeled them true heroes on the frontline.