With the NBA on an indefinite hiatus due to the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, Houston Rockets guard Ben McLemore is using his platform to encourage fans to adopt social distancing practices.
In commentary on his Instagram account, McLemore wrote Sunday:
If our current reality has taught me one thing, it’s that we have taken so many simple things for granted. In a week’s time, our lifestyles have changed beyond recognition. I miss basketball. I miss my teammates. I miss the fans.
But we have to take this seriously to be able to save something even greater — humanity. Let’s band together, heed the advice of medical professionals, and take this social distancing seriously. The thought that [COVID-19] can only significantly affect older people is a myth. Young people are dying. Stay safe and remain vigilant so that we can get back to the lives we miss.
Now 27 years old and in his seventh NBA season, McLemore has been an on-court revelation for the Rockets (40-24) this season — averaging 9.8 points in 22.8 minutes per game, including a 39.5% accuracy rate on 3-pointers. That’s the team’s best among consistent rotation players.
Like most NBA players, McLemore wants back on the court, and he knows the quickest way to do that is to follow the guidence of health professionals to slow the spread of the virus.
According to The New York Times, data as of Sunday showed 31,722 cases of coronavirus in the United States, including 400 deaths.
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