Last month, the Orland Magic made headlines when the team donated $50,000 to Never Back Down Inc., which describes itself as a “grassroots movement to elect Florida governor Ron DeSantis for President in 2024.” The donation prompted a statement from the NBA Player’s Association, and now Ron DeSantis is clapping back.
Last week, the NBPA released a statement calling the $50,000 contribution “alarming.”
“A political contribution from the Orlando Magic is alarming given recent comments and policies of its beneficiary,” the NBPA said.
“NBA governors, players, and personnel have the right to express their personal political views, including through donations and statements. 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.”
DeSantis fired back with a tweet of his own.
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
“It appears the NBA took a break from protesting our anthem and bending the knee to Communist China to chirp about my policies,” DeSantis said in a tweet.
This message from DeSantis quickly went viral on social media as people reacted to his words.
Black athletes were protesting racial injustice in the extra judicial murder of unarmed Black people, not the anthem, although the anthem was written by a racist slaveholder and has lyrics that glorify the murder of enslaved Black people.
Your policies are trash. They are vile,… https://t.co/bJhBZxdSrz
— Bishop Talbert Swan (@TalbertSwan) August 5, 2023
Bro you’re losing a republican primary to a dude who doesn’t worship Jesus. That’s how much they hate you. https://t.co/zUADFASIGF
— Van “#1 Voice in Wrestling Media” Lathan Jr (@VanLathan) August 5, 2023
Just Rob DeKlantis, at it again. https://t.co/MqJqpXw4S1
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) August 4, 2023
Fresh from picking a fight with Black Republicans over *checks notes* slavery, DeSantis now picking a fight with *checks notes* some of the most popular sports stars in America.
Meanwhile, a new Iowa poll has him 24 points behind Trump who isn’t even really campaigning in Iowa. https://t.co/ySKUVapXUb
— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) August 4, 2023
this is, at best, unethical for him to say bc he's referring to a donation to his super PAC that he legally is not allowed to have any coordination with https://t.co/QIYO5oY6C5
— lil bump stock (@m_booker1) August 4, 2023
DeSantis is really starting to master “The Art of Trumpian Tweeting” https://t.co/Ub3fvYtYAD
— #StopCopCity (@ChuckModi1) August 6, 2023
It’s worth noting that while DeSantis appears to believe he is responding to the NBA, the statement actually came from the NBA Players Association.
