San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills will donate the remaining portion of this season's salary to Black Lives Matter causes. Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

Spurs' Patty Mills to donate over $1M of salary to Black Lives Matter organizations

By Erin Walsh | Last updated Jul 8, 2020 2:47 PM ET

San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills had a difficult decision to make when it came to opting in or out of the 2019-20 NBA season resumption in Orlando, but he decided to opt in for a very good reason.

The 31-year-old announced Wednesday that he is donating his remaining NBA salary of over $1 million in Orlando to Black Lives Matter organizations.

“I’m playing in Orlando because I don’t want to leave any money on the table that could be going to black communities,” Mills said of donating the salary he earns in Orlando to three groups for social justice in Australia – ‘Black Lives Matter Australia,’ ‘Deaths in Custody,’ and the ‘We Got You’ campaign."

Spurs guard Patty Mills says he is donating his remaining NBA salary of $1,017,818.54 in Orlando to Black Lives Matter organizations. pic.twitter.com/ugPwExNebM
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 8, 2020

If the Spurs only play eight games and don't make the playoffs, Mills will earn just over $1 million.

While in Orlando, the NBA will be focusing on social justice, from discussions to allowing players to wear movement slogans on the back of their jerseys.

Along with racial justice discussions, Mills also wants to talk about the wildfires that destroyed much of his native Australia last year because they could very well happen again in 2020.

The NBA's resumption is set to be a powerful one, and the ability for players to show their support for Black Lives Matter and other social justice causes will help bring the issues to light like never before. Mills certainly will be a part of those discussions.

Erin Walsh

Erin Walsh is a Boston sports fan through and through. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Bridgewater State University and currently is in pursuit of her Master's Degree in Journalism from Northeastern University. Follow her on Twitter @ewalsh90

More must-reads: