There’s big money to be made—for players, agents, and networks—in the NBA Finals currently underway. But while the Golden State Warriors battle the Cleveland Cavaliers on the court, off court, NBA team owners have been making some sizable political contributions.

In fact, the generous and deep-pocketed NBA owners gave just under $12 million in 2016, with Democrat Hillary Clinton the favored presidential candidate. She drew nearly $77,000 in direct contributions, while her joint fundraising committees secured $1.2 million from at least 22 individuals, including owners and their spouses. By contrast, just three owner pairs gave a total of $10,800 to President Donald Trump directly; his joint fundraising committee drew just over $869,000. That bucks a general historical trend—since 1989, NBA owners have donated just under $21.6 million to Republicans and $10.4 million to Democrats in congressional and presidential elections.

It was Richard DeVos, founder of Amway and owner of the Orlando Magic, who led the pack in spending among NBA owners in 2016. He and his wife, Helen, donated $3.9 million to Republican election efforts. They skirted Trump in the primary, giving $250,000 each to super PACs supporting Ted Cruz, Jeb Bush, and Carly Fiorina. (They also donated directly to Cruz, Bush and Scott Walker.) DeVos added another $750,000 to a super PAC started by the Trump-averse conservative Koch network, Freedom Partners Action Fund. But DeVos came around to Trump in the general election with a $70,000 check to his joint fundraising committee, Trump Victory. His daughter-in-law, Betsy DeVos, now serves as Trump’s education secretary.

DeVos and his wife have been the biggest spenders among NBA owners for years. Since 1989, they’ve doled out $7.3 million to federal candidates, party committees, and outside spending groups.

Cavs majority owner Dan Gilbert and his wife, Jennifer, came in second of the lot in 2016. They shelled out $2.1 million that cycle, with just over half of that landing in the coffers of a super PAC backing GOP candidate Chris Christie, America Leads ($1.3 million.) Another $350,000 went to a super PAC behind Republican John Kasich, New Day for America. In the general election, Gilbert veered left, donating $150,000 to Clinton’s joint fundraising committee, Hillary Victory Fund.

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Cavs minority owner Gordon Gund and his wife Llura claimed the number three spot among NBA owner-donors. Of their $1.4 million in campaign contributions in 2016, $750,000 went to super PACs affiliated with Kasich. But the Gunds went for Clinton in the general election, giving $30,000 to her joint fundraising committee.

Contributions to Trump’s election effort came from just three team owner pairs: Peter and Julianna Holt of the San Antonio Spurs, James Dolan of the New York Knicks, and DeVos. Holt was the biggest Trump booster; he and his wife donated just under $500,000 to Trump’s joint fundraising committee, of which Trump received $5,400; the rest went to GOP party committees. Not far behind was Dolan, who gave $300,000, $2,700 going into Trump’s coffers.

Among Clinton’s top donors was Marc and Cathy Lasry of the Philadelphia 76ers, who gave just under $178,000 to her joint fundraising committee. Trailing behind were Ted and Lynn Leonsis of the Washington Wizards (just over $158,000), Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, who are minority stakeholders of the 76ers ($150,000), Stan Kroenke of the Denver Nuggets ($100,000) and Herbert and Bui Simon of the Pacers ($100,000.)

While owners contributed generously in 2016, players and coaches tend to sit on the sidelines when it comes to political giving. Of those competing in the finals, neither Warriors nor Cavs players donated.

Whether 2018 will have owners opening their wallets as wide remains to be seen. So far, they’ve put just over $142,000 into the midterms.

Researcher Alex Baumgart contributed to this post.



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