The National Basketball Players Association released a statement Thursday to address the Orlando Magic’s $50,000 donation to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis presidential campaign. The players union stressed that the organization’s support for the conservative politician did not reflect the opinions of the players.
The donation was sent in May by the Magic organization to a super PAC, Never Back Down Inc., which raised $97 million for DeSantis in June. It is strange for teams to donate directly to political campaigns, though owners do individually donate millions each year.
“NBA governors, players and personnel have the right to express their personal political views, including through donations and statements,” the statement said. “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 DeVos family, which has owned the Magic since 2011, defended the donation through the team, arguing that it was made before DeSantis announced his campaign. The family has made donations going back to DeSantis’ days as U.S. representative, when Richard DeVos, the late co-founder of Amway, made donations before his death in 2018. Betsy DeVos, the wife of Richard’s son Dick DeVos, served in former President Donald Trump’s cabinet as the secretary of education.
“This gift was given before Governor DeSantis entered the presidential race,” a DeVos family spokesperson said in a statement to USA Today. “It was given as a Florida business in support of a Florida governor for the continued prosperity of Central Florida.”
No players on the Magic have commented on the donation, but Pelicans player Larry Nance Jr. expressed disapproval on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“So the (Orlando Magic) 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?” Nance wrote.
During his tenure as governor in Florida, DeSantis has enacted conservative legislation around an “anti-woke” agenda. He has limited discussion of a number of social issues in schools, loosened gun control laws, fought against perceived censorship of conservative voices in the media and butted heads with Disney in order to weaken its influence in the Orlando area.
