It's pretty obvious where most NBA players stand politically. They make no secret of it. It's no secre that basketball stars loved Obama, hate Trump.
Per Politico:
“When I went to the White House nobody cared,” said Craig Hodges, a former NBA player, who wore a dashiki and delivered a letter on inequality to George H.W. Bush when the president welcomed the Chicago Bulls for a visit in the early 1990s. “But the NBA is part of the resistance now. I don’t know if that happens without Barack.”
Kobe Bryant claims that having Obama in office "made locker rooms more politically aware.
“Conversations changed,” Bryant added. “Obviously, now with the violence we’re seeing across the country, that’s something athletes are understanding more and more. He was rare. We all miss him to a certain extent.”
Just days after the election Gregg Popovich said, "I'm just sick to my stomach," with regards to President Trump being elected. He donated money to the Obama campaign in 2012.
When asked if he would go to the White House if invited today, Kobe Bryant said, “I probably would go. That visit is more than how you feel about the current administration. It’s about the guys next to you, about the flag, about the kids out there who look up to you and the United States. But, honestly, it’s a tough call.”
Donald Trump received exactly zero donations from the NBA. Dan Gilbert donated $750,000 to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie. Once Christie dropped out of the race he immediately endorsed Donald Trump. That is the closest the NBA came to endorsing Donald Trump.
It's very clear that Donald Trump gets zero support from the NBA. The reason why that is the case varies. Ultimately, does it matter? Probably not. Donald Trump can do what he needs to do in order to have a successful presidency, whether the NBA has his back or not.
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