ORLANDO, FLA -- March 10 is clear in Wes Iwundu's mind.
The Magic had just completed a 17-point come-from-behind victory at Memphis pushing their winning streak to three games.
"We had the momentum," Iwundu said. "We had the momentum. We had this thing rolling and it got put to a stop."
That wasn't by choice. The following night the NBA suspended the season indefinitely after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus.
"It’s kind of like everything is in a crazy frenzy. When it all went down man I think it caught everybody off guard.”
At 6'7 with lockdown defensive ability on the perimeter, Iwundu is the picture of health. Like most of us, his views on COVID-19 have shifted following Gobert's diagnosis.
"Once it hit Rudy, after that I started taking it very serious and I understood it’s bigger than basketball.”
Iwundu's next step proved that to be true. The forward helped contribute to teammate Jonathan Isaac's mission. Isaac is teaming up with J.U.M.P. Ministries and Project Life, Inc., providing meals to school-age children in the Orlando area.
"“It’s just so hard for people to adjust," Iwundu said. "People may not be working right now or in a different situation. I’ve just seen it as inspired by JI to help him and helping his program out by any way I can by effecting it and putting food in families homes who might be going through a tough time right now.”
Iwundu and Isaac aren't alone. Teammates, coaches and various members of the organization are providing relief and aid to the Central Florida community.
“It just shows about the heart. We care as players and in a sense it’s not all just about basketball. We’re here to help in any way possible as we can and see fit. It just shows the mindset we carry as players, as a team and the type of guys we have.”
The Magic are 30-35 sitting in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings.