List: NBA players and coaches exclusively donate to Barack Obama's campaign
According to a list compiled by HoopsHype.com, NBA players and coaches have exclusively donated to the reelection campaign of President Barack Obama. The list, gathered from data on OpenSecrets.org, shows a healthy mix of NBA front-office donations to both Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. Giving from players and coaches skew heavily to the incumbent.
Here are some of the most well-known donors and their campaign of choice:
Donating to Obama
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks -- $5,000
Johnny Buss, Owner, Los Angeles Lakers -- $600
Vince Carter, Toronto Raptors -- $5,000
Baron Davis, New York Knicks -- $5,000
Joe Dumars, President, Detroit Pistons, $1,000
Patrick Ewing, $5,000
Grant Hill, Los Angeles Clippers, $5,000c
Billy Hunter, NBA Player's Association, $2,500
Michael Jordan, $5,000
Ted Leonsis, Owner, Washington Wizards, $5,000
Alonzo Mourning, Assistant Coach, Miami Heat, $5,000
Gregg Popovich, Head Coach, San Antonio Spurs, $5,000
Doc Rivers, Head Coach, Boston Celtics, $5,000
Adam Silver, Deputy Commissioner, $4,500
David Stern, Commissioner, $5,000
Donating to Romney
Danny Ainge, President of Basketball Operations, Boston Celtics, $2,500
Clay Bennett, Owner, Oklahoma City Thunder, $7,500
James Dolan, Owner, New York Knicks, $5,000
Dan Gilbert, Owner, Cleveland Cavaliers, $5,000
Daryl Morey, General Manager, Houston Rockets, $2,500
Pat Riley, President, Miami Heat, $2,500
Robert Sarver, Owner, Phoenix Suns, $5,000
Herb Simon, Owner, Indiana Pacers, $5,000
Ballhype's list had a total of 42 donors giving a total of $128,145 to Obama and 32 donors giving $118,500 to Romney, or the equivalent of seven seconds of political airtime during Sunday night's football game on NBC.
As far as we could tell, only one person who spends time on the court during games donated to Romney's campaign, but he's a pretty famous one. Internet sensation Bryan Doo, the strength and conditioning coach of the Boston Celtics, gave $250 to the Republican candidate and we're sure he did it with a broad smile on his face.
