San Antonio Spurs: Patty Mills donates season salary to Black Lives Matter

San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills is donating the remainder of his salary

The NBA and many of its players have stepped up to advocate for social justice causes and passionately protest systematic racism over the past few weeks. The NBA and its players have always been some of the more vocal advocates in professional sports but they have taken it to another level in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in late May. Now one of the San Antonio Spurs own is doubling down on helping out.

Patty Mills has always been the consummate Spur. He’s known for helping out in his community in San Antonio as well as his native Australia, led a fundraising campaign dedicated to raising money towards helping victims of domestic violence earlier this year, and is now using the rest of the 2019-20 season to help benefit the Black Lives Matter movement.

San Antonio Spurs’ Patty Mills donates remaining salary to Black Lives Matter

“I’m proud to say I’m taking every cent from these eight games that we’re playing, which for me will turn out to be $1,017,818 and 54 cents, and donating that directly back to Black Lives Matter Australia, Black Deaths in Custody and to a recent campaign that’s called We Got You — dedicated to ending racism in sport in Australia. I’m playing in Orlando because I don’t want to leave any money on the table that could be going directly to Black communities.”

Some of the biggest stars in the NBA have voiced their hesitation about resuming play given the spotlight that is on the activism that so many of them are a prominent part of. Dwight Howard, Lou Williams, and Kyrie Irving have all questioned whether now is the best time to bring sports back into our lives given the much-needed attention that these movements are receiving.

From Patty’s statements, it sounds like he’s largely taking part in these final few regular-season games so that he can take the money that he will be paid and use it for good. The San Antonio Spurs are unlikely to make the playoffs and it seems like there will be a greater emphasis on getting increased playing time for young players. Credit to Patty for going anyway so that he can use his platform, and his earnings, to influence positive change.

There is some debate about whether or not Patty should have his jersey retired by the San Antonio Spurs when he decides to call it a career and this latest show of generosity is another point in his favor. He’s an NBA champion, a near career-long Spur, is closing in on several Spurs records for 3-point shooting, and has continually embodied what it means to be a Spur off the court. By the time he hangs his jersey up for good, there should be little question about his candidacy for having his number retired.

San Antonio Spurs fans should have the utmost appreciation and respect for Patty Mills. Both for his contributions off the court and his continued generosity in contributing to making our world a better place.