NBA

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.

Ex-NBA stud Jason Collins has tested positive for coronavirus ... and he says he feels so crappy, he's considering a return trip to the hospital Tuesday.

The 41-year-old former center says he took a trip to New York City earlier this month for the Brooklyn Nets' pride night game on March 4 ... and believes he contracted COVID-19 while there.

Collins says his symptoms started with a "terrible headache" just a few days later on March 11 ... and then quickly progressed.

"A few days later I had a fever and then the cough," Collins said. "On Saturday I went to the ER and got tested and spoke with some docs about the tightness in my chest."

Collins added, "I’m home now resting but still experiencing some tightness and might go back to the hospital later today."

The good news for JC ... he says initial tests Saturday showed his lungs were clear.

In the meantime, Collins -- who played 14 seasons in the NBA (and was famously the first openly gay man to play in an NBA game) -- is pleading with people to social-distance to stop the spread of the virus.

"Thank you to every single health care worker out there that are our true heroes on the frontline," Collins said. "Please let’s try to flatten the curve & not overwhelm our health care system."

NBA star Rudy Gobert says he's suffering from some awful side effects of the Coronavirus ... claiming he's lost his sense of both taste AND smell since his diagnosis.

"Loss of smell and taste is definitely one of the symptoms," the Utah Jazz center said Sunday. "Haven’t been able to smell anything for the last 4 days."

The 27-year-old was officially diagnosed with COVID-19 back on March 11 -- remember, it was his positive test results that spurred NBA commish Adam Silver to suspend league-play indefinitely.

But, Gobert had seemed to be recovering well ... until this weekend, when he revealed he's having trouble tasting and smelling things.

"Anyone experiencing the same thing?" Gobert said.

According to reports, others with the virus have said they share similar issues ... although the CDC and WHO say the most common symptoms are fever, cough, fatigue and respiratory problems.

Gobert is one of several NBA players who have contracted the virus this month ... Kevin Durant, Marcus Smart and two unnamed Lakers players -- among others -- have all tested positive in the last few days.

Rudy has apologized for carelessly exposing others before he was officially diagnosed ... and has since implored people to practice self-quarantining and social distancing to help stop the spread of the virus.

Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union aren't letting quarantine crush their competitive spirit -- they're still that couple that goes head-to-head ... it's just in their living room now.

Gabby and D-Wade set up their own version of pop-a-shot -- clearly jonesin' for an arcade or even a real hard court, but making necessary adjustments due to the coronavirus pandemic.

We won't give away who won the husband-wife shootout, but we'll say this ... Gabrielle ain't no chump from three-point land. She also seems like a wannabe color commentator, based on her call while Dwyane was shooting.

It looks like 12-year-old Zaya is on the action, too ... we think that's her holding up the hoop for pops and Gabrielle.

Drake is breathing a sigh of relief -- a BIG sigh of relief -- after his coronavirus test came back negative.

Drake took to Instagram with his pops, Dennis Graham, to deliver the news.  Drake was understandably overjoyed.

As we reported, Drake came in close contact with Kevin Durant, who has since tested positive for the virus.

Drake is on the list of asymptomatic celebs who somehow got the test, despite the fact that many have found it next to impossible to get one when they don't show symptoms, and often, even when they do.

Vanessa Bryant's trying to get affairs in order for her and her kids following Kobe's death, and coronavirus is making it difficult ... so she's asking the court for some help.

Vanessa filed legal docs asking a judge to appoint a guardian ad litem for her 2 daughters -- Bianka and Natalia -- as well as another for Capri ... as it pertains to modifying Kobe's trust to include Capri. This is a standard way of doing things -- judges routinely appoint guardians to represent the independent interests of the children -- but now she says it's urgent.

Why? Vanessa says "due to court closures caused by the global pandemic" there is major uncertainty with how the court system will stay open ... so she needs to get her ducks in a row STAT.

We broke the story ... Vanessa just filed other legal docs asking a judge to amend Kobe's trust to include their youngest daughter, 9-month-old Capri, who was born after Kobe last amended the trust.

Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has teamed up with star players Luka Doncic and Dwight Powell to donate $500k to help healthcare workers battling the coronavirus pandemic.

The money will go to the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Hospital and will be earmarked to support childcare for healthcare workers on the frontlines of the COVID-19 response effort.

"We can’t thank our healthcare workers enough for putting their patients’ well-being before their own," Cuban said.

"I am thankful to Luka and Dwight as we partner up to support healthcare workers who are doing everything they can to keep our community healthy."

Luka added, "“Thank you to our amazing healthcare workers. They are sacrificing so much to care for others, and I am honored to help.”

Daniel Podolsky, who runs UT Southwestern, issued a statement thanking the men for their donation.

"We are deeply grateful to the entire Dallas Mavericks organization, and especially to Mark, Dwight and Luka, for their incredible generosity in providing emergency childcare funding benefitting the frontline healthcare workers of UT Southwestern and Parkland."

The coronavirus pandemic continues to spread throughout the NBA -- the Philadelphia 76ers just announced 3 members of the organization have tested POSITIVE for COVID-19.

It's worth noting -- the team has NOT specified whether any players have tested positive -- but in a statement released on Thursday, the Sixers say, players, coaches and basketball operations employees within the organization have been tested ... and 3 came back positive.

Here's the team statement ... "The Philadelphia 76ers, in consultation with medical experts and the NBA, received the recommendation that certain individuals from the organization, including players, coaches and specific basketball operations support staff, be tested for COVID-19."

"The tests were secured and processed privately."

The statement continues ... "Three individuals have received positive test results for COVID-19. All other test results are currently negative. We have reported this information to state and local health authorities as required."

The Sixers say the 3 people who tested positive are practicing self-isolation and will work with experts to get better.

The news comes on the heels of the Denver Nuggets reporting a member of their org. tested positive for coronavirus ... as well as Kevin Durant, Detriot Pistons' Christian Woods, Utah Jazz stars Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell testing positive last week.

The BIG3 won't let a national emergency keep America from getting some 3-on-3 action ... 'cause Ice Cube's league is reportedly planning to host a QUARANTINED TOURNAMENT!!!

The plan, according to Yahoo! Sports, is to broadcast a "reality show-style" event starring 16 to 22 ex-NBA stars who have tested NEGATIVE for COVID-19 and agree to be quarantined in L.A.

The players selected to play will reportedly be placed in a huge house leading up to the competition ... and anyone who breaks quarantine will be eliminated from playing.

The players' lives will be documented 'Real World' style ... focusing on the drama and daily interactions among the BIG3 talent.

As for the tourney ... the league is planning a 7-round competition with players shuffling between teams ... and each player will be eliminated after 3 individual losses.

And, oh yeah ... there will be MILLIONS of dollars on the line.

BIG3 co-founder Jeff Kwatinetz released a statement to Y!S ... saying, "As long as we can protect the players, which we will do through proper testing and quarantine, Ice Cube and I feel we can give fans some safe, entertaining brand of basketball to get everyone through this pandemic."

"Cube and I have been in the entertainment business for 30 years. This is our job. People want to be entertained with all we’re going through and enjoy our sports. We think this will help."

Quarantine class got a whole lot better for some 1st graders in Georgia this week ... 'cause Shaquille O'Neal popped in their video lesson to say hi -- and everyone freaked out!!

TMZ Sports has learned the Big Diesel is a family friend of a student at East Lake Elementary in McDonough, GA ... and with the kids in isolation over coronavirus fears, Shaq decided to brighten their day.

The students were doing a lesson over FaceTime ... when O'Neal shockingly popped up on the screen.

The NBA legend said hello to the teacher -- who said, stunned, "Is that Shaq?!" -- and kids and parents on the call all began losing their minds.

You can see in the clip ... dads, moms and students all grabbed their phones to snap video -- all with priceless looks on their faces!!

We're told Shaq stayed on for a few minutes ... saying hi to everyone in the chat -- with one parent telling us, "It was really cool."

It's an awesome gesture from Shaq -- because some kids are struggling with the effects of school closures and quarantines all over the country.