Jrue Holiday pledges remaining 2019-20 salary to charity

Jrue Holiday is making the most of his time and money in the Orlando bubble, not only on the court but off it.

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday has basically flown under the radar throughout his whole NBA career. A one-time All-Star and two-time All-Defense team selection, Holiday truly does not get his just due for the work he has done in both Philadelphia and New Orleans.

With the NBA season approaching in a matter of weeks, a lot has been made about how players are going to support social justice reform while also playing in the Orlando bubble. Whether it be sitting out altogether, putting an approved message in place of a player’s last name on their jersey or another form of activism, players are taking stands however they see fit.

For Holiday and his wife Lauren, a former United States women’s national soccer world champion, the two are focusing their efforts on how to make America a better place.

Holiday has decided — in tandem with Lauren — to start a fund that will be focused on fighting systemic racism while promoting success in the Black community throughout America. According to the organization’s website, the donation amounts to about $5 million.

This is not the first time during the league’s hiatus that a player has come out and said he will donate his earnings to charity. San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills said he will be donating his remaining season salary of more than $1 million to the Black Lives Matter movement in his home country of Australia. Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard also said on CNN that he will donate his salary to the Breathe Again campaign.

The NBA has dealt with plenty of issues in terms of working with its players on a restart plan. With the Black Lives Matter movement and racial injustice hitting so close to home throughout the league, finding ways to get involved has become a priority. With the work done by Jrue and Lauren, promoting the successes of Black people in America will be the Holiday family’s main goal going forward.