NBA players have had some mixed feelings as it relates to resuming the 2019-20 season amid the ongoing pandemic and the racial inequality we’re seeing in the United States today.
Though, that’s not just limited to North America. A native of Australia, San Antonio Spurs star Patty Mills is doing something to help those most impacted in his home country.
Patty Mills will donate remainder of salary to Black Lives Matter Australia, other charities
The remainder of Mills’ salary comes out to roughly $1.02 million. In addition to Black Lives Matter Australia, he’s focusing on a couple other charitable organizations.
Black Deaths in Custody stems from a committee back in 1987 that found one indigenous person was dying in custody every 11 days in Australia. Racism in that nation has a long, dark history.
The NBA and Black Lives Matter
The Association will allow players to share messages on the back of their jerseys once the season resumes July 30 in Orlando. Here’s a list of messages that can be shared.
There’s also renewed interest in national anthem protests following the murder of George Floyd by a then-Minneapolis police officer back in May 25. The expectation is that said protests will be widespread in nature once the season resumes.
More than any other professional sports league, the NBA has put itself center stage when it comes to activism. There’s no reason to believe that’s going to change as the 2019-20 season ramps up again.
Mills’ donation is just the latest example.
As for the Spurs, they had to Walt Disney World with a 27-36 record and are four games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the final playoff spot out west.
Each team will play eight regular-season games before the playoffs start. Unless San Antonio is the ninth seed and four games or less out of the final spot, it will exit Walt Disney World after those eight games.