NBA players are some of the most highly paid athletes in the world and these huge amounts of money come from the community and people that love the league and the sport with all their hearts. Many players realize this and give back to the community to thank them.
They also make significant donations to cure prevailing problems in the society, alleviating the misfortunes of those in needs. Today we will be looking at the 10 most charitable NBA players who have given back to the community and constantly continue to do so.
#10. Dirk Nowitzki
The Former Dallas Maverick star and retired professional Basketball player Dirk Nowitzki is not only a great player on the court but is a great person off the court as well. He made an impressive fortune across his 21-season tenure in the NBA, one of the longest careers in league history, and has actively given back to the community.
Nowitzki has founded the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation which aims to help children and support them with health initiatives and educational programs in Dallas.
Nowitzki is also active in many charitable projects. He is an avid supporter of the Make-A-Wish foundation that works for disabled and seriously ill children. He has also committed to raising awareness towards cancer, while funding cancer research and other health-related issues.
#9. Carmelo Anthony
Carmelo Anthony has been one of the most charitable NBA players ever. He retired from the game fairly recently (May 2023) and is considered one of the greatest scorers to ever play in the NBA. Anthony has been very active in working for society and giving back to the community like supporting Hurricane Sandy relief and cancer research projects.
He established the Carmelo Anthony Foundation which works in providing community initiatives and educational programs. In Baltimore, his hometown, Carmelo founded the Melo7 Tech Center which offers access to technology and training in tech for the youth.
#8. Chis Paul
The Golden State Warriors star Chris Paul is a dominant force on the court for the Dubs but he has a soft side as well that he displays while providing for the needy and giving back to the community. Paul is a charitable person who has donated a lot of money during the COVID-19 pandemic and also in Hurricane relief.
One of the most followed NBA athletes across social media platforms, Paul advocates nobles causes and addresses prevailing problems in the society. He founded the Chris Paul Family Foundation which supports education for the youth and also offers leadership development programs to individuals. Paul also established the CP3 Foundation which provides resources for the needy and the underprivileged in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
#7. Pau Gasol
The six-time NBA All-Star Pau Gasol was a fantastic player for the Los Angeles Lakers in his playing days. Widely regarded as one of the greatest power forwards of all-time, he is also a great human being off the court as well because of his many philanthropic and charitable acts. He is a global ambassador for the Special Olympics and promotes the inclusion of athletes with intellectual disabilities.
Pau Gasol has established the Gasol Foundation which works for the youth supporting them with healthcare initiatives and educational programs. He is also connected with UNICEF and the United Nations Foundation which works to help the underprivileged all over the world.
#6. Dwyane Wade
One of the best teammates of the Lakers star LeBron James at the Miami Heat, Dwyane Wade was all that the NBA talked about during his prime days. He formed an excellent duo with King James and was a great player. Off the court, Dwyane Wade has shown qualities of being a great human being as he actively works for the community.
He actively advocates against gun laws and mass shootings and uses his voice and platform to spread awareness on the same. He established the Wade Foundation which works for initiatives related to health, social justice, and education for all people. He has also donated a lot of money for noble causes such as game checks for relief funds and supporting the LGBTQ+ community.
#5. Kevin Durant
The Phoenix Suns star and two-time NBA Champion Kevin Durant is not only big in size but has a big heart as well. KD has been doing community service for a long time and has donated a lot of money to help the underprivileged in the society.
He has established the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation which helps support community centers and youth programs related to education, health, and more. He had once donated a huge amount of $10 million to the University of Texas as funds for scholarship programs and educational resources. He is also an advocate for social justice, voting rights, and racial equality.
#4. Stephen Curry
Stephen Curry is arguably the best three-point shooter of all time that has played in the NBA. The Golden State Warriors’ superstar is also among the highest paid players in the league. However, he does not keep all the money for himself but instead shares it with the community in his way of giving back to them.
Along with his wife Ayesha, Steph founded the Eat.Learn.Play which is a foundation working to aid people with the basic commodities of life. It provides nutritious meals and educational opportunities for underprivileged children.
Additionally, he supports various charities and even the UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital through the Curry Family Foundation. Steph Curry is also an advocate for social justice, voting rights, and racial equality.
#3. Magic Johnson
Magic Johnson is one of the greatest players to ever play in the NBA and arguably the best point guard to play in the NBA. After retirement, he became a great businessman and recently joined LeBron James and Michael Jordan as the third-ever NBA player to become a billionaire. He spent a significant amount of his money on giving back to the community and providing for the underprivileged.
The NBA legend established the Magic Johnson Foundation which works to spread awareness and prevent HIV and AIDS which have been a terrible threat to human life. He owns MJE (Magic Johnson Enterprise) which provides job opportunities and also promotes diversity and inclusion in business. He is also a patron of the Special Olympics as well as the United Way.
#2. LeBron James
The Lakers star LeBron James is one of the most popular basketball players on the planet. Widely regarded as the greatest small forward of all-time, he is revered by a lot of people and is an icon for many. He does not fail to disappoint his fans and admirers and takes every opportunity he gets to give back to the community and help the needy.
He established the LeBron James Family Foundation which provides scholarships and supports a lot of different educational programs. He opened the “I Promise” school in his hometown of Akron, Ohio to help the children and youth who are at-risk. King James has also spent over $40 million to provide for the free education of more than a thousand students.
#1. Michael Jordan
The greatest of all time in the NBA, Michael Jordan earned a huge amount of fame and money during his time in the NBA, and post-retirement as a successful businessman. One of the greatest clutch players of all-time, Jordan has not only aided his teams during gameplay but has also worked tirelessly to make the world a better place.
He is looked up to by many people and has been an inspiration for younger children for more than two decades. Jordan has never shied away from giving back to the community and has been doing so for a long time.
He is the acting chairman of the Charlotte Hornets Foundation which supports education among the youth and works for social justice. Over the years he has made numerous donations to charities like the Boys & Girls Club of America and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The total estimated donations by Michael Jordan over all these years exceed a staggering number of hundreds of millions of dollars.
Who else do you have on your mind among the most charitable NBA athletes over the years? Share with us below, we sure would love to hear.
