NBA Contributions

The chart above depicts the percent of contributions in U.S. Dollars donated to Republican and Democrat candidates/parties/affiliated groups, seeking national office during the 2020 election cycle, donated by employees, or owners, of the companies listed, and those individuals' immediate family members, based on data collected from www.opensecrets.org.

In some instances the money was possibly donated by the actual company, but the bulk of it typically comes from individuals within the company, or immediate family members of individuals within the company.  The only way I'm discussing the actual organization is if I reference it as "the organization itself", otherwise, I'm talking about the jargon mentioned above (individuals within the company, owners, employees, direct family, etc.).  In some instances, the money considered contributed may come from PACs affiliated with the mentioned organization. 

Facts: 

- My favorite fact in researching these teams was that Social Justice Warrior, Lebron James, plays for 1 of the 5 teams in the entire league that donated more to Republicans than to Democrats.  This league went all in on Black Lives Matters and the ratings tanked like crazy.  Why do I bring that up?  Because the owners should have talked to these guys and told them two things, #1 don't politicize this game, and #2 if you want to make a difference, donate to individuals running for the House and Senate, and be vocal about those individuals and what you'd like to see them accomplish using individuals with a criminal record as lobbyists, because really, what's the difference between the two?  that would have been the best way for individuals like Lebron to try and improve criminal justice inequities for African-Americans.  Instead, it's crystal clear that Lebron James does not put his money where his mouth is, as the Los Angeles Lakers were absolutely pathetic in the amount donated, especially considering a franchise that has a payroll of around $130,000,000 divided among ~20 players, comes out to around $6,500,000 a piece.  If you consider that the number donated by the Lakers (listed below as a combined $17,060) also includes anyone that is affiliated with them, not just players.  The guy that takes tickets, the lady that sells programs, etc.  Important note that the Lakers organization itself did not directly donate to any particular candidate or party, just individuals affiliated with them.

Let's continue to demonstrate Lebron James' legacy that will be left behind.  He came into the league as King James, because literally, he inherited a kingdom built by Michael Jordan, and other numerous superstars.  After the 2020 NBA Finals averaged appoximately 5.5 million fans, (down from the 35 million+ in the Jordan era), Lebron has gone on to make the new Space Jam Movie.  The average price of a movie ticket in 1996 was $4.35(https://247wallst.com/media/2021/03/29/this-is-the-price-of-a-movie-ticket-in-the-past-25-years/) and the inflation calculator (https://www.usinflationcalculator.com/) today shows us that would equal around $7.57 in today's money, which is not a significant price difference from the 2021 average ticket price of $9.16.

The new Space Jam came out in early July and had a budget of $150 million and has made $151.8 globally.  The old Space Jam made $250 million globally (~$435 million when calculated for inflation in today's number) on an $80 million budget ($139.5 Million calculated for inflation).  It looks as though Hollywood has found out exactly what the NBA already knew, the King is sitting on a throne of disappointment.  

- One other fun fact that was fun to find out was that the San Antonio Spurs are one of the five teams in the NBA that (with affiliated individuals) donated more to Republicans than Democrats, as the organization itself did not donate directly to any candidate or party.      

Exact amounts by team, league, or players association are as follows:

Democrats on the Left, Republicans on the right!

Jazz                $263  $2,000    

Suns             $6,100  $100    

Nuggets           $25   $0    

Mavericks     $68,570 $0    

Trail Blazers  $2,300  $500    

Lakers          $6,980  $10,080    

Grizzlies        $1,220  $84    

Warriors       $20,770 $50    

Spurs             $0       $5,600    

Pelicans         $263    $0    

Kings           $17,470  $500    

Timberwolves $1,017   $0    

Thunder        $6,250  $475    

Rockets         $13,430  $0    

76ers             $2,920  $0    

Nets              $2,050  $0    

Bucks            $21,770  $0    

Knicks*          $69,190  $755,820    

Hawks           $6,750   $214    

Heat             $30,680 $200    

Celtics              $686  $0    

Wizards            $632  $0    

Pacers                 $15  $19,550    

Hornets           $1,100  $200    

Bulls              $15,340  $10,630    

Cavs                $1,190  $149    

Magic**            $1,310  $0    

NBA             $103,810  $8,550    

Total             $402,281  $814,702     

*The Knicks are owned by MSG Sports, which means that their data includes far more parties than just the Knicks, but it's the best that can be done with the data provided.  For a complete list of all properties owned by MSG Sports, please visit  Our Company | MSG Sports 

** The Magic are owned by RDV Sports, which means that their data includes far more parties than just the Magic, but it's the best that an be done with the data provided.  For a complete list of all properties owned by RDV Sports, please visit  RDV Sports, Inc. - WikiMili, The Best Wikipedia Reader 

*** No data could be found on the Clippers, Raptors, or Pistons.  

**** No NBA Players Association data was available.

Special Thanks to  https://charts.livegap.com for the website used to make the chart above.  

The chart above depicts the percent of contributions in U.S. Dollars donated to Republican and Democrat candidates/parties/affiliated groups, seeking national office during the 2020 election cycle, donated by employees, or owners, of the companies listed, and those individuals' immediate family members, based on data collected from www.opensecrets.org.

In some instances the money was possibly donated by the actual company, but the bulk of it typically comes from individuals within the company, or immediate family members of individuals within the company.  The only way I'm discussing the actual organization is if I reference it as "the organization itself", otherwise, I'm talking about the jargon mentioned above (individuals within the company, owners, employees, direct family, etc.).  In some instances, the money considered contributed may come from PACs affiliated with the mentioned organization.
 

Exact amounts by team, league, or players association are as follows:

Democrats on the Left, Republicans on the right!

Jazz $263  $2,000    

Suns $6,100  $100    

Nuggets $25  $0    

Mavericks $68,570  $0    

Trail Blazers $2,300  $500    

Lakers $6,980  $10,080    

Grizzlies $1,220  $84    

Warriors $20,770  $50    

Spurs $0  $5,600    

Pelicans $263  $0    

Kings $17,470  $500    

Timberwolves $1,017  $0    

Thunder $6,250  $475    

Rockets $13,430  $0    

76ers $2,920  $0    

Nets $2,050  $0    

Bucks $21,770  $0    

Knicks* $69,190  $755,820    

Hawks $6,750  $214    

Heat $30,680  $200    

Celtics $686  $0    

Wizards $632  $0    

Pacers $15  $19,550    

Hornets $1,100  $200    

Bulls $15,340  $10,630    

Cavs $1,190  $149    

Magic** $1,310  $0        

*The Knicks are owned by MSG Sports, which means that their data includes far more parties than just the Knicks, but it's the best that can be done with the data provided.  For a complete list of all properties owned by MSG Sports, please visit  Our Company | MSG Sports 

** The Magic are owned by RDV Sports, which means that their data includes far more parties than just the Magic, but it's the best that an be done with the data provided.  For a complete list of all properties owned by RDV Sports, please visit  RDV Sports, Inc. - WikiMili, The Best Wikipedia Reader 

*** No data could be found on the Raptors or Pistons.  

The chart above depicts the percent of contributions in U.S. Dollars donated to Republican and Democrat candidates/parties/affiliated groups, seeking national office during the 2020 election cycle, donated by employees, or owners, of the companies listed, and those individuals' immediate family members, based on data collected from www.opensecrets.org.

In some instances the money was possibly donated by the actual company, but the bulk of it typically comes from individuals within the company, or immediate family members of individuals within the company.  The only way I'm discussing the actual organization is if I reference it as "the organization itself", otherwise, I'm talking about the jargon mentioned above (individuals within the company, owners, employees, direct family, etc.).  In some instances, the money considered contributed may come from PACs affiliated with the mentioned organization.
 

Exact amounts by team, league, or players association are as follows:

Democrats on the Left, Republicans on the right!

Jazz $263  $2,000    

Suns $6,100  $100    

Nuggets $25  $0    

Mavericks $68,570  $0    

Trail Blazers $2,300  $500    

Lakers $6,980  $10,080    

Grizzlies $1,220  $84    

Warriors $20,770  $50    

Spurs $0  $5,600    

Pelicans $263  $0    

Kings $17,470  $500    

Timberwolves $1,017  $0    

Thunder $6,250  $475    

Rockets $13,430  $0    

* No data could be found on the Clippers.