Pistons HC raises $17,500 towards LA Wildfires in unique way
Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff was shocked to know what his compatriots suffered due to the LA Wildfires.
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Detroit Pistons HC JB Bickerstaff uses creative approach to raise funds for LA Wildfire victims
The LA Wildfires have caused a lot of devastations as hundreds of thousands of residents were forced to evacuate. Many of them lost their homes and assets and are now staring at a lengthy rebuild. The NBA and its partners are doing their bit to help those affected.
That help saw the league and the NBPA donate a million dollars to various organizations who are working to help the residents. The league postponed games scheduled for the two Los Angeles based teams as they did not want to add to the stress the city was already in.
Los Angeles Lakers teammates Anthony Davis and Jarred Vanderbilt spearheaded donations to a gofundme page. The page was set up by team videographer Rohan Ali who lost his childhood home to the Eton fire in Altadena.
Reports on the wildfire has reached people across the globe. Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff had learnt about what happened to his compatriots, JJ Redick and Steve Kerr, and he addressed the media prior to their game yesterday.
I was moved to this reading some stuff that JJ Redick was going through, Steve Kerr’s family and community is going through, and I just want to make sure we take this time to find a way to support one another the best way we possibly can. The people that are going through these things, how all of us can do something, no matter what it is, to just reach out and help humanity at this point.
JB Bickerstaff said
This excerpt as quoted by USA Today showed Bickerstaff was affected by the devastation the people of Los Angeles had suffered. However, he was not going to stand still as he organized a fundraiser, in the most unique way possible.
JB Bickerstaff pushes players to raise LA Wildfires fund in unique way
JB Bickerstaff was previously the head coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers. They fired him after last season, and he joined the Detroit Pistons as their next head coach. Having earned enough, he wanted to help the victims of the LA Wildfires in any way he can.
But to do that, he came up with a novel approach. USA Today revealed that Bickerstaff told his team that he would donate $500 for every assist his team recorded. The team ended up with 35 assists, which meant, he was going to donate $17,500 from his own money.
Star guard Cade Cunningham led the team with seventeen assists of his own. That made him the highest contributor on the team. A novel approach that saw his team do their bit to help those who have suffered from the LA Wildfires. In doing that, they also won the game that moved them to 20-19 for the season.
Had the season ended today, the Detroit Pistons would finish above .500 for the first time in nine seasons. A stellar improvement for a team that last season bore the brunt of media and fans on their way to etch their name to the most infamous records in history.
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Joseph Varghese
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