Patty Mills donating NBA restart salary to help fight racism

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

 

San Antonio Spurs’ guard Patty Mills will be playing in the NBA restart not only to help his squad clinch a spot in the playoffs but to also help eliminate racism in Australia.

The sharp-shooting guard said that he will be donating the salary he will earn in the NBA restart to three causes in Australia: Black Lives Matter Australia, the newly organized We Got You campaign that addresses issues against Racism, and another organization that helps Blacks dying during custody.

A total of $1,017,818 earnings for the eight remaining regular-season games will be Mills’ contribution who was always a strong supporter of victims of racism.

“So, 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,” Mills said.

Mills has always been vocal regarding issues of racism and is a strong advocate of educating people on the value of respecting the culture and values of others.

“He’s a guy that I think everybody looks to for motivation and stuff like that. I think along with his actions and his words backing up his actions … he’s definitely been somebody that I think not only the team but the league realizes is a community leader and somebody that’s always caring for other people,” said his Spurs teammate Trey Lyles.

Mills is not the only player to announce donation of his NBA restart salary, Los Angeles Lakers’ center Dwight Howard also expressed his plan in dishing out financial support to a charity called Breathe Again, which was formed to combat hatred and racism.