Show up. Play when asked. Say, “Thank you. I am fortunate to be a professional athlete playing in the NBA.” Regardless of how bad the atmosphere is, support your team and your teammates and play the game. Enjoy life and your career. Time is short so get out there and play and earn that paycheck. The world is ending. Real people – good people - are getting laid off from work and having their homes foreclosed. No one will empathize with a professional athlete making $21 million per year and one who doesn’t want to work to earn it.

Wow. Talk about bad timing and bad optics and bad PR. Just play the game. Smile and realize how fortunate you are to be a professional athlete. No one will sympathize about hurt feelings. For $190k per game, get on the floor and play and enjoy. How bad can it be?