NBA

Call this the biggest assist of the year so far for Marcus Smart ... the NBA player is donating his blood plasma after beating coronavirus to try to help others recover from the disease as well.

Some COVID-19 experts believe by taking the plasma of a person who's beaten the virus and giving it to currently infected people can help them get better.

The science, officials say, is the antibodies in the plasma can help sick people develop similar coronavirus fighters quicker as well.

The problem? Doctors say finding donors has been tough ... and the NBA, according to ESPN, has actually reached out to its teams to try to get its recovered players to participate.

Enter Smart ... whose agent confirmed Tuesday the Boston Celtics star is more than willing to give up his blood plasma for the potential cure.

Smart said on Twitter last week he was cleared by the Mass. Dept. Of Health after being diagnosed with the virus. He claimed he never once felt sick.

NBA star Rudy Gobert is back in action just days after getting cleared of his coronavirus diagnosis ... hitting an intense boxing workout to prove he's back on his grind.

Of course, Gobert was first diagnosed with COVID-19 back on March 11 ... which eventually led to the NBA suspending its season.

The All-Star center -- along with teammate Donovan Mitchell -- was given the green light to get back to action (while still self-quarantining) Friday ... and now, the 27-year-old is keeping his body right.

Gobert posted a video hitting the mitts with a trainer in an empty gym Tuesday ... captioning the clip with a simple message -- "back at it."

It's great to see things getting back to normal (or as normal as it can be) for Gobert ... who recently explained he lost his sense of taste and smell while dealing with the virus.

Here's some good news out of Boston ... Celtics star Marcus Smart says he was cleared of COVID-19!!

"Corona free as of two days ago!' Smart announced on his Twitter Sunday night.

Remember, Smart tested positive for the coronavirus shortly after Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell also contracted the virus about 2 weeks ago -- forcing the league to postpone the season.

Well, after being quarantined since March 19, the 26-year-old is GOOD TO GO, saying he was cleared by the Massachusetts Department of Health!

"Thanks for everyone's thoughts and prayers and I'm doing the same for everyone that's been effected by this!"

"Stay safe and stay together - apart! Much love!'

The Detroit Pistons are taking a huge step in helping out their community amid the coronavirus outbreak -- offering health officials a massive space they own and operate to be used for anything and everything COVID-19 related.

The Athletic's James Edwards III broke the news Saturday, saying Pistons brass are willing to put their new performance center facility, which opened in October, on the line for scientists and doctors in and around the Detroit area for "whatever best use" they see fit.

James notes ... that could be for testing, hospital patients starting to overflow the local medical facilities or even for medical staff who might need a neutral, clean place to sleep.

He also says nothing is official yet, but discussions are ongoing and the team has made clear they are down to help out however they can, including lending the space ... which is a 185,000 square foot state-of-the-art building that normally encompasses all sorts of businesses in a one-stop-shop type of setting. It's massive, and would certainly go a long way right now.

STEVE BALLMER!!!

The L.A. Clippers owner and his wife Connie just pledged more than $25 MILLION to help fight the battle against COVID-19!!!!

And, get this ... $10 MILLION of that pledge is earmarked for the Univ. of Washington Medicine’s Emergency Response Fund to expedite testing for a vaccine!!!

How 'bout them Clippers now, huh!?!?!

Of course, Steve -- who made his fortune as the CEO of Microsoft -- is reportedly worth more than $50 BILLION so, dude can afford to cut those big ass checks. It's still an awesome move.

The rest of the cash will go toward relief efforts in Seattle, Michigan and Los Angeles, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk.

Ballmer is the latest big name in the sports world to pitch in -- just yesterday, Drew Brees pledged $5 MILLION to the State of Louisiana.

Conor McGregor, Rihanna, Kylie Jenner and more have also opened up their wallets.

LET'S GO!!!!

NOOOOO!!!!

Doris Burke -- America's most beloved sportscaster (sorry Joe Buck) -- just revealed she tested positive for coronavirus ... but she's already on the mend!

54-year-old Burke -- who's been calling NBA games for years -- appeared on "The Woj Pod" and spelled it out to Adrian Wojnarowski.

"I did test positive for COVID-19 and basically, my first symptoms looking back on it was March 11, which was the day I was broadcasting Denver at Dallas, which was obviously when Rudy Gobert tested positive," Burke said.

Burke says it took several days before she got her test results back -- finally, the Health Dept. called her with the news.

"So, the delay of the test results allowed me to wrap my mind around the idea that I did have this. I basically was in my own bedroom, by myself, for 2 weeks away from my daughter and her fiance. My daughter was the one cooking me meals, bringing me everything, and we're gonna continue the social distance. I am out of my room. Thank God."

Huge news out of Utah ... where the state Dept. of Health says it has "cleared" Jazz players and staff to leave isolation after 2 players tested positive for coronavirus.

Remember, Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell were the first two NBA athletes to test positive for COVID-19 roughly 2 weeks ago, prompting the league to postpone the season indefinitely.

The rest of the Utah Jazz team -- including players, coaches and staff -- were all tested and ordered into isolation to try and reduce the chances of exposing anyone else.

But, Friday morning, the Utah Dept. of Health gave the green light to rejoin their families.

"As of today, Friday, March 27, all Utah Jazz players and staff have been cleared by the Utah Department of Health after completing their respective periods of isolation and quarantine following exposure to COVID-19."

"In accordance with CDC and NBA recommendations, all players and staff will continue to practice social distancing while limiting time outside of their homes to essential activities."

Steph Curry just stepped up and finally asked Dr. Anthony Fauci the question MILLIONS of Americans want to know -- WHEN ARE WE GOING TO GET SPORTS BACK!?!?

The NBA superstar connected with the man heading up the White House Coronavirus Task Force for a video chat Thursday to get as much info as he could about the pandemic, without President Trump trying to sugarcoat it.

Oh, and there was a bonus (comment) cameo from Barack Obama!

The whole conversation was fascinating -- not only did Steph get answers about what needs to happen before we can have major sporting events and public gatherings, but Curry also revealed he was tested for COVID-19 a few weeks ago when he was showing symptoms.

Steph says his symptoms were minor and he appears okay now -- and Dr. Fauci praised the 32-year-old for not rushing to the hospital right away.

"You did the right thing! If someone right now gets flu-like symptoms, a fever, aches and a bit of a cough, the first thing you do is stay at home. Don't go to the emergency room because you might be affecting others."

Fauci added, "Get on the phone with a physician, a nurse of a healthcare provider. Get instruction from them on what to do and if available, you can get a test."

"But, the critical issue is don't flood the emergency room. Stay at home. If you're really obviously seriously ill, then you gotta go quickly there but if you just have aches, pains and a fever stay where you are but contact your physician."

There's more ... during the chat, Steph's good pal President Obama added some words of encouragement to the guys.

FYI, Dr. Fauci is a HUGE basketball fan -- he's even got a hoop in his office (which you can see in the shot!).

NBA star-turned-marijuana mogul Al Harrington says his Viola company's sales are through the roof since the coronavirus scare took over the U.S. ... and now he's scrambling to meet the demand.

Of course, Harrington has turned into a highly successful weed advocate and entrepreneur in his post-playing days ... sharing the medical benefits for athletes, as well as, the average folk.

We spoke with Harrington about the insane demand for cannabis products right now -- after all, EVERYBODY is stressing out over COVID-19 -- and he says his sales have DOUBLED.

"The challenge is gonna be making sure that we can keep up with the demand at this point," Harrington tells TMZ Sports.

"Everybody is stocking up on their favorite brands. I feel like the 'canna-curious' is really steppin' up right now, especially when you're stuck in the house with your kids 24 hours a day."

Harrington says the weed industry is booming just like toilet paper ... with people stocking up and worrying about when they'll be able to get more.

Harrington says his employees are following all the restrictions and taking extra steps to make sure they're safe during the pandemic ... but hopes the government continues to allow them to stay open as an "essential" business.

NBA superstar Karl-Anthony Towns says his mother had to be placed on a ventilator and then into a medically-induced coma after she displayed severe symptoms of COVID-19.

The Minnesota Timberwolves center revealed the devastating news in an emotional video late Tuesday night ... saying both of his parents came down with flu-like symptoms early last week.

KAT says he urged the two to go to the hospital, and while he says his dad eventually got better -- his mom, Jacqueline Cruz, didn't ... with her condition "deteriorating" daily.

Karl-Anthony says a fever ravaged her ... with Cruz's 103-degree temp only falling to 101.9 after meds -- and then re-spiking almost immediately after.

KAT, who didn't specifically say his parents had tested positive for coronavirus, says doctors tried all kinds of drugs to get his mom better ... but, eventually, the 24-year-old says her lungs got so bad, she was forced to be put on a ventilator.

Then, KAT says doctors put her in a medically induced coma.

"We always thought the next medicine would help," he said. "The next one would help. This is the one that's going to get it done. This one will make sure to get it done."

Towns says he's optimistic for his mom ... but you can see in the video, he's VERY concerned.

"My mother is the strongest woman I know, and I know she will beat this," he said. "And, we will rejoice when she does."

The NBA player says he made the video this week to explain the virus is VERY real ... and begged people to take stay-at-home orders seriously.

NBA superstar Joel Embiid is gunning to help those in need "do a 180" during the coronavirus pandemic ... donating HALF A MILLION DOLLARS to medical relief.

But, the 76ers center isn't stopping there -- the 26-year-old is vowing to financially support team staffers who have been asked to take a pay cut during the NBA suspension.

As Adrian Wojnarowski reported Tuesday morning ... 76ers employees who make more than $50k a year are being required to accept a 20% salary reduction ... and the remaining staffers have been asked to voluntarily take the cut.

The amount Embiid will shell out for his fellow Sixers employees will depend on how many will need financial support during the league's hiatus.

Embiid joins fellow NBA superstars like Kevin Love, Zion Williamson and Giannis Antetokounmpo who have vowed to support arena and team staffers during the coronavirus suspension.