Patty Mills Donating $1M+ Spurs Salary from NBA Restart to Social Justice Causes

Rob Goldberg @TheRobGoldbergFeatured ColumnistJuly 8, 2020

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - FEBRUARY 23: Patty Mills #8 of the San Antonio Spurs looks on against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 23, 2020 at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Zach Beeker/NBAE via Getty Images)

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San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills announced he will donate his entire salary from the NBA's restart—over $1 million—to the Black Lives Matter movement in Australia and the We Got You campaign, according to Travis Recek of Spectrum News.

"I'm playing in Orlando because I don't want to leave any money on the table that could be going to Black communities," the Australian said Wednesday, per Mike Finger of the San Antonio Express-News.

Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Spurs guard Patty Mills says he is donating his remaining NBA salary of $1,017,818.54 in Orlando to Black Lives Matter organizations. https://t.co/ugPwExNebM

Mills has a $12.4 million salary for 2019-20.

The Spurs are long shots to make a deep run when the season restarts July 30. San Antonio has a 27-36 record, four games behind the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference with three teams between them. The team has 1,000-1 odds to win the NBA title, tied for the second-lowest among the 22 teams heading to the Orlando area, per Caesars Palace.

Mills said returning is worth it so he can help Black communities.

The 31-year-old has used his platform in recent months to discuss anti-racism strategies and has championed social justice causes in Australia:

Patrick Mills @Patty_Mills
When allies who stand up and speak out against racism, although a small gesture, this is one of many actions that have a tremendous impact on the person being targeted because they feel the support. It can also make whoever racially vilifies that person reconsider own behavior. https://t.co/MqH3Fc1CqX

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Patrick Mills @Patty_Mills
...is not truly reflecting the concerns and sufferings of black families and communities across OUR country who have been grieving and seeking justice for decades on this same exact matter - ‘black deaths in custody’ Australia.

The NBA has encouraged players to discuss social justice issues and will allow certain words and messages on the backs of players' jerseys while also painting "Black Lives Matter" on the courts at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.