Florida Politics reports:
NBA players cried foul when the Orlando Magic donated $50,000 to support Ron DeSantis’ presidential ambitions. Now, Florida’s Governor wants to dunk on the entire league. Financial disclosures released this week show the Orlando Magic donated $50,000 to Never Back Down, a super PAC supporting DeSantis. “A political contribution from the Orlando Magic is alarming given recent comments and policies of its beneficiary,” reads a statement from the association.
DeSantis pushed back on the statement from the players’ association, treating it as a slam by the entire NBA. “It appears the NBA took a break from protesting our anthem and bending the knee to Communist China to chirp about my policies,” reads a tweet from DeSantis. Of note, the Players Association represents only the players, not the owners of the NBA or individual teams. The Orlando Magic was founded by the late Amway founder Richard DeVos and is owned by his family.
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The Magic claim that the donation was only made in gratitude to the “continued prosperity of Central Florida,” noting that their check was dated a week before DeSantis formally launched his campaign.
DeSantis recently attacked pro basketball players in general, calling them “freaks of nature” who earned their status due to their physical height, whereas pro baseball, DeSantis contends, is a “meritocracy” in which players advance due to their skills.
It appears the NBA took a break from protesting our anthem and bending the knee to Communist China to chirp about my policies. https://t.co/j8uH4AmAx7
— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) August 4, 2023
