NBA Players and Staff Look for Ways to Help Cast Members Impacted by Layoffs
As the NBA Finals got underway at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Walt Disney World last night, thousands of Cast Members learned their positions were eliminated. Once word of Cast Member layoffs reached the NBA Bubble; players, coaches and team staff were looking for ways to help them according to Keith Smith on Twitter. (@KeithSmithNBA)
As Smith reports, “They (NBA players, coaches, and staff) want to help those who took such great care of them.”
A feel good story: Per several Walt Disney World and NBA sources, NBA players, coaches and staffers have reached out to ask if there is anything they can do to provide help for laid off WDW Cast Members. One source said: “They want to help those who took such great care of them.”
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 1, 2020

Photo: NBA
In addition, Smith notes that NBA personnel left “Very generous tips upon their departures from their hotels” for Cast Members. They also were rumored to have given Cast Members pricey items including electronics.
This is on top of Walt Disney World sources telling me that NBA personnel left “very generous tips upon their departures from their hotels”. I have also been told that NBA folks gifted several items, including expensive electronics, purchased during their stay to Cast Members. https://t.co/JctPOf2FOZ
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) October 1, 2020
Earlier this week, it was announced that the Walt Disney Company would be laying off around 28,000 Cast Members due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic as well as the continued closure of Disneyland in California.
Back in July, the NBA restarted their season at the Walt Disney World Resort in what has been called the NBA Bubble. 22 teams were invited to the Bubble to play eight regular season games. Since then hundreds of games have been played including the NBA Playoffs. The NBA Finals tipped off last night with the Los Angeles Lakers winning over the Miami Heat.

Image Credit: NBA
When NBA Players and staff arrived at Walt Disney World, they were housed at one of three Walt Disney World Resort Hotels including Disney’s Coronado Springs, Disney’s Beach Club Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Being away from their families for so long, many NBA players and staff developed close friendships with Cast Members while inside the Bubble. It’s extremely heartwarming to see them wanting to what they can to help these impacted Cast Members.
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