NBA Players Union Decries ‘Alarming’ Orlando Magic Donation to DeSantis Super PAC

Members of the Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets kneel around a Black Lives Matter logo during the national anthem before the start of an NBA basketball game in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., on July 31, 2020. (Ashley Landis/AP Photo)

The union representing National Basketball Association (NBA) players blasted the Orlando Magic for giving a donation to the super political action committee supporting Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ presidential campaign.

“A political contribution from the Orlando Magic is alarming given recent comments and policies of its beneficiary,” said the National Basketball Players Association in an Aug. 3 statement.

“NBA governors, players and personnel have the right to express their personal political views, including through donations and statements,” continued the NBPA. “However, if contributions are made on behalf of an entire team, using money earned through the labor of its employees, it is incumbent upon the team governors to consider the diverse values and perspectives of staff and players.

“The Magic’s donation does not represent player support for the recipient.”

The Magic, owned by billionaire businessman and GOP megadonor Rick DeVos, donated $50,000 to Never Back Down, a super PAC backing Mr. DeSantis, on May 19, just days before Mr. DeSantis launched his White House run. The PAC, which supported DeSantis’ gubernatorial reelection campaign and has been experiencing financial troubles, registered the donation on June 26.

Magic spokesperson Joel Glass told ABC News that “the gift was given before Governor DeSantis entered the presidential race.”

“It was given as a Florida business in support of a Florida governor for the continued prosperity of Central Florida,” he said.

Nonetheless, the DeVos family has yet to endorse a candidate in the race.

“No member of the DeVos family has endorsed or offered financial support to any 2024 Presidential candidate at this point. They are undecided,” family spokesperson Nick Wasmiller told ABC News.

Rick DeVos’ wife, Betsy DeVos, was secretary of education under former President Donald Trump, who is running for a second term in the Oval Office.

“Team governors make their own decisions on the political contributions they make and we respect the right of members of the N.B.A. family to express their political views,” NBA spokesperson Mike Bass told The New York Times, which first reported on the DeVos donation to the DeSantis super PAC.

NBA Owners Favor Republicans

The DeVos donation was not the first time an NBA owner has given a political donation.

Since Jan. 1, 2015, NBA owners have given $28 million in political contributions. Almost 81 percent and 18.4 percent of donations from NBA owners went to Republicans and Democrats, respectively, in the 2020 election cycle, with the remainder going to bipartisan interests, according to the sports website The Ringer.

Mr. DeSantis ridiculed the NBPA for blasting the DeVos contribution.

“It appears the NBA took a break from protesting our anthem and bending the knee to Communist China to chirp about my policies,” he posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.

The NBA has been known for its political activism in the past few years.

In 2020, there were political messages, including “Black Lives Matter,” on uniforms and on courts. Players knelt during the national anthem and the NBA even canceled playoff games in the wake of player social justice protests.

In 2019, the NBA separated itself from a statement by then-Houston Rockets General Manager Daryl Morrey expressing solidarity with the pro-democracy demonstrators in Hong Kong. The Chinese Communist Party took over Hong Kong following decades of semi-autonomy from mainland China, and the NBA has come under fire for its close relationship with China. In 2020, ESPN published a story about allegations of human rights violations at NBA China academies.

Players Speaking Out

NBA players, including future hall-of-famer LeBron James, and head coaches have publicly expressed political opinions.

“He’s dividing us. I noticed over the last few months that he’s used sport to divide us and that’s something that I can’t relate to because I know that sport was the first time I was ever around someone white,” Mr. James told CNN in 2018, referring to then-President Donald Trump.

“A #POTUS whose name alone creates division and anger. Whose words inspire dissension and hatred can’t possibly ‘Make America Great Again,’” posted the late NBA hall-of-famer Kobe Bryant on X.

San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich has made numerous statements in support of left-wing ideas.

“Columbus? He initiated a new-world genocide, that’s what he did. Beginning with him, and what he said would follow, the annihilation of every indigenous person in Hispaniola, which was Haiti and the Dominican Republic today,” Mr. Popovich said at a press conference in 2021.

“It’s like saying we should be proud of Hitler because we’re German, it makes no sense,” he added.

Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr called for gun control in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022.

“When are we going to do something?” said an emotional Mr. Kerr. “I’m tired. I am so tired of getting up here and offering condolences to the devastated families that are out there. ... I am tired of the moments of silence. Enough!”

It is not only NBA owners that have given political donations.

In the 2016, 2018, and 2020 elections, American major professional sports owners and commissioners have given overwhelmingly to Republicans rather than Democrats. Altogether during those election cycles, those owners and commissioners donated at least $34.25 million to Republicans and over $10.11 million to Democrats, according to ESPN.

MLB, NBA, NHL, NFL and NASCAR owners have given more to Republicans than Democrats, while WNBA owners have favored Democrats. Altogether, about $37.5 million and $12.2 million were given to Republicans and Democrats, respectively, over the six-year span, according to ESPN.