Since Magic Johnson announced he was retiring from the basketball because he contracted HIV in 1991, the National Basketball Association has been influential in spreading the message of HIV/AIDS awareness.

In a statement released by the league on World AIDS Day, the NBA said it stands committed in its mission.

“On Dec. 1, 2011, the NBA family will continue the fight against HIV/AIDS in support of World AIDS Day,” said the statement. “NBA Cares has supported HIV/AIDS research and education in a variety of ways including public service announcements, leadership with the business coalition GBCHealth, HIV/AIDS testing and grassroots activities, education workshops and charitable donations.”

The NBA has a Public Service Announcement from Women’s National Basketball Association hoops star Candice Wiggins featured on its website, in which the WNBA hoops star discusses her father, Alan Wiggins, a professional major league baseball player who died of AIDS.

“HIV/AIDS has personally affected me and the people I love. When I speak up and talk about HIV/AIDS, I know my father’s death wasn’t in vain,” Williams said about her decision to get involved on World AIDS Day,” said Wiggins.

“This year, through a variety of collaborative partnerships worldwide the league and its teams will generate awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS education and research,” the NBA statement continued.

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One of the partnerships is with the Greater Than AIDS campaign that collaborated with the NBA for the Candice Wiggins PSA and helps support World AIDS Day with its website greaterthan.org.

The website helps spread awareness of the disease by providing first hand accounts of people living with HIV/AIDS and informing people of HIV testing sites throughout the country.

As the NBA gets ready to begin their season on Christmas Day, the league, team and its players continue in their fight against the spread of HIV/AIDS.