Rumors

Vivek Jacob: Darko Rajakovic and his family has donated US$79,761 across SickKids Hospital in Toronto, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, and the University Children's Hospital in Belgrade. Raptors had 2,417 assists this season, Rajakovic had committed to US$33/assist.

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Jason Beede: Inbox: #Magic guard Jevon Carter and his wife, Taylor, along with the Treadmill Mentality Foundation will host a diaper drive before Games 3 and 4 in Orlando. The Carters will match each donated diaper, up to 20,000. All donations support the Central Florida Diaper Bank. More:

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Just a few months after the successful title run, Jaylen Brown, Jrue Holiday, and Lauren Holiday together launched the Boston Creator Accelerator, an incubator aimed at supporting underrepresented entrepreneurs in the Greater Boston Area. The Accelerator provided 10 creators with monetary grants totaling $1 million — as well as mentorship, resources, and direct access to Brown and the Holidays.

Celtics Blog

Brown, who launched Boston XChange last season in hopes of supporting entrepreneurs from underrepresented communities, was thrilled to collaborate with the Holidays. “Sometimes, you’re asking other guys, they’ve been advised not to be involved because of whatever reason, I don’t know,” Brown said last season. “But Jrue and Lauren Holiday are great people. They’ve been doing this everywhere they go.”

Celtics Blog

Two decades after his retirement from the NBA, Kenny Anderson is on a mission to invest in youth the way others invested in him, and that mission brings him to Columbus twice in the spring: once, to host an April event, Celebration of Game Changers, for young athletes and their parents and coaches; and again, on May 2, for a 3x3 basketball tournament designed to hone participants’ basketball skills and employability.

Columbus Dispatch

Ian Begley: Jose Alvarado was in Brooklyn recently for a homecoming celebration at the Williamsburg Community Center. Alvarado, a Brooklyn native, told the crowd how much the event - hosted by Grand Street Settlement - meant to him:

Twitter

Nick DePaula: BREAKING: Stephen Curry is auctioning off his Sneaker Free Agency collection on @Sothebys, benefitting his @EatLearnPlay Foundation. “For this to turn into true impact & sustainable resources for kids in Oakland that desperately need it — to me, that’s a win-win for everybody.” The ‘Curry Sneaker Free Agency Collection’ will include signed tunnel, warm up & game-worn pairs, along with rare PEs. “I’ve always believed that every pair of sneakers tells a story,” says Curry. "I was excited to spend this time shining a light on players over the years who left their mark on the sneaker game.”

Twitter

NBA on ESPN: The NBA and Coaches Association are teaming up for Autism Acceptance Month, using the game’s platform to drive awareness and inclusion. Utah Jazz assistant coach Scott Morrison and his wife, Susanne, joined NBA Today to share their personal journey raising their son, highlighting the importance of understanding, support, and acceptance

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Derek Bodner: Last night's Sixers Youth Foundation gala raised a record $2.6 million, the Sixers say.

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Ian Begley: Karl-Anthony Towns is the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for February. Towns is being recognized for helping local families in need and supporting youth development initiatives in the Dominican Republic.

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Tom Orsborn: Bismack Biyombo was blown away by how many of his teammates and others in the organization attended his gala to raise money to ease suffering in the DR Congo: “It’s a different thing when you hear about the Spurs organization and when you experience it. They do things different. They show up.”

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Several other players, including Victor Wembanyama and De'Aaron Fox, showed up to support Biyombo. Others in attendance included coach Mitch Johnson and several of his assistants, general manager Brian Wright, franchise CEO R.C. Buford, Spurs managing partner Peter J. Holt and Spurs shareholder Charlie Amato. Wembanayama was one of the first players to arrive. "I actually did not speak to Vic about this," Biyombo said. "I just sent (invitations out) in a group text message, and he just showed up. And the first thing he did was give me this big hug, a full of smile, and I got somewhat emotional and said, "Man, thank you.' ... But that's who Vic is, man."

San Antonio Express-News

NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal has pledged to cover the funeral expenses for 12-year-old Jada West, who was fatally injured in a violent school bus incident that drew national attention. “This story touched my heart the moment I saw it in the media,” said O’Neal, who’s serving as chief of community relations for the Henry County Sheriff’s Office. “As a father, my heart goes out to Jada’s family. No parent should ever have to bury their child, and if there is anything I can do to ease even a small part of that burden, then it is the right thing to do. “Our community must surround this family with love, support, and compassion during such a painful moment.”

atlantanewsfirst.com

Dave McMenamin: “You go there and then you realize that you don't really have problems in your life at all. Health is a lot. It's the most important thing in life. So, you realize you don't have problems at all. So just having interaction with them yesterday, it was super, super amazing”

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