Orlando Magic’s Political Donation Is ‘Alarming,’ Players’ Union Says

The N.B.A. gamers’ union criticized the Orlando Magic on Thursday for its $50,000 donation to an excellent PAC supportive of Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, a Republican who’s vying for the social gathering’s presidential nomination for the 2024 election.

“A political contribution from the Orlando Magic is alarming given recent comments and policies of its beneficiary,” the union, the National Basketball Players Association, mentioned in an announcement.

The $50,000 examine, which was made public this week by monetary disclosures, was dated May 19, in line with a spokesperson for the Magic, days earlier than DeSantis introduced his run. It was the primary identified occasion wherein an N.B.A. crew immediately donated to a gaggle allied with a presidential candidate — or one, like DeSantis, who was broadly anticipated to run for the workplace. The Magic are owned by the conservative DeVos household.

The crew declined to touch upon Thursday, and the DeSantis marketing campaign and the tremendous PAC, Never Back Down, didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.

“N.B.A. governors, players and personnel have the right to express their personal political views, including through donations and statements,” the union’s assertion continued. “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 donation has positioned the league in an uncomfortable highlight. Several of the league’s initiatives — such because the endorsement of increasing voting rights and the assist of expunging some prison information — are stances DeSantis has opposed as governor. The N.B.A. and W.N.B.A. got here out in assist of abortion rights, whereas DeSantis signed one of the crucial restrictive abortion legal guidelines within the nation.

In addition, DeSantis has come beneath criticism not too long ago for the overhaul to Florida’s African American historical past requirements, which critics have mentioned softens the brutality of slavery. In specific, the requirements say that college students needs to be instructed that “slaves developed skills which, in some instances, could be applied for their personal benefit.”

This is a delicate concern for the N.B.A., wherein the overwhelming majority of gamers are Black.

“So the @OrlandoMagic who have a majority Black roster, a Black head coach, and a Black GM decided it was a good idea to support a man that claims that slavery had personal benefits for the enslaved?” Larry Nance Jr., a participant for the New Orleans Pelicans who’s on the board of the league’s social justice coalition, mentioned on social media on Wednesday. The Magic’s donation got here earlier than Florida unveiled the adjustments to its African American historical past requirements.

A league spokesman, Mike Bass, mentioned on Wednesday, “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.”

Since Adam Silver took over as N.B.A. commissioner in February 2014, he has principally welcomed political activism from gamers — and gone additional in some situations, resembling pulling the 2017 All-Star Game from North Carolina to protest a state legislation that eradicated anti-discrimination protections for lesbian, homosexual, bisexual and transgender folks. After a player-led work stoppage throughout the 2020 playoffs, the N.B.A. created a social justice coalition to handle points that disproportionately have an effect on Black folks, like prison justice reform. But a number of of the N.B.A.’s homeowners steadily donate to politicians who’re in opposition to the reforms the league has backed.

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