Less than 24 hours after one of their toughest defeats of the 2012-13 season, it wasn’t difficult for New Orleans Hornets players Eric Gordon and Anthony Davis to put a heartbreaking loss to the Los Angeles Lakers into perspective. That’s because on the afternoon of Thursday, March 7, the team’s starting shooting guard and power forward visited with people whose vocations are of undoubtedly greater consequence, in all reality. Gordon and Davis spent part of their day greeting local military personnel at the Naval Air Station, Joint Reserve Base in Belle Chasse, La., located roughly 10 miles from downtown New Orleans.
Along with local businesses and individuals, Gordon donated an allotment of 300 tickets to military families at the base. The fifth-year NBA player joined rookie Davis in personally handing out free Hornets items and the tickets, which were for the Sunday, March 10 home game vs. the Portland Trail Blazers. The players also signed autographs and posed for photos with scores of military personnel and their families. Sunday’s game vs. Portland marks the Hornets’ annual Military Night at the Hive, in which a total of 1,200 tickets will be given to local servicepeople.
“We’re here to support the military and give back to them,” said Gordon, whose grandfather served in the military. “We will always support them and give back to those who’ve done so much for this country.”
“It’s always nice to get away and get your mind off basketball,” said the 19-year-old Davis, in between taking pictures with numerous fans. “We’re basketball 24-7 in our profession, but we are here to show our appreciation for what servicemen and servicewomen do. We appreciate everything they do for us, so we’re happy to be able to give them tickets in return.”