As announced in a press release on Tuesday by the NBPA, Cavaliers guards Dante Exum and Matthew Dellavedova were among nine NBA players to donate a collective $750,000 to help combat the ongoing bushfires in Australia.
Along with Exum and Dellavedova, Suns center Aron Baynes, 76ers center and 76ers forward Ben Simmons, Pistons forward Thon Maker, Spurs guard Patty Mills, Jazz forward Joe Ingles and Mavericks forward Ryan Broekhoff partnered with the NBPA to make the donation. Each player is Australian.
“We are heartbroken over the devastation these fires are causing all across our homeland,” the players said in a joint statement. “Our thoughts are with our families, friends and all of the people of Australia. We hope you feel our love and support and know that we will continue to bring awareness to this crisis globally and provide assistance in any way we can.”
The fires are currently ravaging Australia and have a destroyed an area larger than Denmark. Per Bloomberg, “Australia’s Climate Council estimates cumulative damage from reduced agricultural and labor productivity might reach A$19 billion by 2030, A$211 billion by 2050 and a massive A$4 trillion by 2100.”
Celebrities like this group of NBA players have been the largest raisers of funds to fight the fires. Good on Exum and Dellavedova for doing something positive for their home country.