Thanksgiving has a way of slowing down the world — just long enough for gratitude to settle in, for memories to flood back and for communities to feel a little closer than usual. Around the NBA, that sentiment extends far beyond the court. As the holiday season arrives, the league’s long-standing tradition of giving takes center stage.
Across the country, NBA teams have been stepping away from practice gyms and into neighborhoods, sharing meals and moments with the people who fill their arenas with life. In Cleveland, Cavaliers guard Darius Garland lived out that tradition firsthand, helping serve Thanksgiving meals as part of the league-wide effort.
“Being out there with the community means a lot to me, personally. These are the people who support you, who bring energy into the arena,” Garland told The Athletic. “Spending time with them reminds me why I do what I do, and I’ll always try to use my platform to give back and break barriers in sports, education and life.”
The work is all part of NBA Cares Season of Giving, a yearly initiative in which organizations and players look to uplift their cities during the holidays.
“Teams and players identify the biggest needs in their community — whether that be providing Thanksgiving meals, holiday shopping experiences, ticket giveaways or more — and they partner with local youth and family serving organizations,” NBA president of social responsibility and player programs Kathy Behrens said.
This year’s Thanksgiving programming kicked off Nov. 11. From Minneapolis to Miami, players and staff have been hands-on with food distributions, community gatherings and gift donations. The Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Houston Rockets, Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, Indiana Pacers, Detroit Pistons, Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls, among others, directly engaged with families across their cities, handing out turkeys, hosting dinners and sharing holiday gifts.
In Los Angeles, the Lakers hosted 100 students from a program called After-School All-Stars, offering a full Thanksgiving feast.
The initiative “creates opportunities for the Lakers team and staff to connect with the local community and give back to Angelenos,” said Kara Rooney, Lakers associate director of community relations. At the event, “LeBron James took photos with students, Luka Dončić participated in carnival games and Austin Reaves played basketball with the children,” Rooney said.
James’ impact extended beyond the arena. Wednesday, the LeBron James Family Foundation marked a milestone on Instagram: eight years of its Thanksgiving initiative. Working alongside its partners, it “packaged up more than 600 turkeys and totes full of all the seasonal fixings,” the foundation announced. Once the packages were ready, volunteers delivered them door-to-door across Akron, Ohio.
In Minnesota, Terrence Shannon Jr. of the Timberwolves also took part in the Season of Giving, hosting 10 families from the Boys & Girls Club of the Twin Cities, each receiving a $500 gift card to shop for food at Hy-Vee.
At the league level, the partnerships expand even further.
“We partner with organizations like No Kid Hungry to provide awareness for the great work they have been doing for decades to eliminate hunger issues nationally. Similarly, teams partner with organizations like Y-USA or Boys & Girls Clubs to give kids from those organizations not only a once-in-a-lifetime experience but a little holiday cheer,” Behrens added.
The numbers behind these efforts are staggering.
“It’s in the tens of thousands of meals when you combine all that teams and players do to host Thanksgiving turkey drives, dinners and similar events,” Behrens said. She also noted that Sixers star Tyrese Maxey “just held his fourth annual Turkey Giveaway in Philadelphia this week, where he donated 3,000 turkey dinners alone.”
Making an impact in the Motor City! As part of NBA Cares Season of Giving, the Detroit Pistons distributed meals to families in need this Thanksgiving. pic.twitter.com/G1axgFN6jj
— NBA Cares (@nbacares) November 26, 2025
And the giving won’t stop after the final slice of pumpkin pie. Many NBA teams already have more events planned throughout December, carrying the spirit of the holidays forward into the rest of the season.