Pau Gasol Pledges $1,000 Per Point on Friday for Philippines Relief

No matter where our NBA allegiance lies, we should all be Pau Gasol fans on Friday night.

The Los Angeles Lakers big man has pledged to donate $1,000 for every point he scores against the Golden State Warriors.

Here's what Gasol said, courtesy of CrowdRise.com:

"

Children are suffering in the Philippines. Typhoon Haiyan—the year's most powerful tropical storm—is the latest natural disaster to strike a country already reeling from monsoon flooding and a massive earthquake. These children desperately need shelter, clean water, medicine and nutrition.

I am helping UNICEF raise money for their efforts on the ground...I am pledging $1,000 for every point I score at the Lakers game on Friday (November 22nd) to The U.S. Fund for UNICEF.  Will you help too?  Make a donation now (by clicking donate to this fundraiser) OR join me by pledging $1, $5, $10, $20, or however much you can, for every point that I score Friday night.  If you join me in pledging per point, please send me a tweet to let me know. Together we can help make a difference for the children of the Philippines!  Your generosity will help UNICEF provide access to lifesaving care and support to millions of children in the Philippines.

Thanks!

"

The league has stepped up in a big way in responding to the devastation, as Gasol's donation comes on the heels of the NBA and NBA Players Association lending their support.

According to the Associated Press, via ESPN, the two organizations are "donating $250,000 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF in support of UNICEF's emergency relief efforts in areas of the Philippines ravaged by Typhoon Haiyan."

Pau's pledge also spurred on former coach Phil Jackson:

The Miami Heat are also helping out. The team "has committed to donate at least $1 million to support relief efforts," according to Miami Herald's Hannah Sampson.

Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra is particularly close to this situation as a Filipino-American. He recently appeared in a PSA for UNICEF.

The NBA, the Miami Heat and everyone who's stepping up deserve credit for making "NBA Cares" more than just a slogan.

Join them and Pau Gasol by tuning in to the Warriors vs. Lakers game at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN Friday night. Cheer on Gasol, and maybe even hope Golden State's improved defense takes a step back for one night.