© Dan Hamilton | 2019 Jun 10
Following Kevin Durant dropping to the floor with an Achilles injury during the 2nd quarter of Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Toronto Raptors fans could be heard throughout the arena cheering with excitement. Players from both teams were visibly upset over the fans’ reaction, and did their part in ending the crowd’s disrespectful backlash. A few days after the incident some “level-headed and true” Raptor fans are attempting to make things right between the fan-base and Kevin Durant.
On Tuesday, a new GoFundMe campaign titled “Raptor fans: Help support KD’s Charity Foundation!” has begun to raise money towards Durant’s charity foundation to apologize for the crowd’s loathsome response. Durant’s charity raises money to support low-income, at-risk youth with educational, social, and athletic programs.
Hamzah Moin, the creator of the campaign, wrote:
On behalf of the level-headed and true fans of Raptor Nation – from Toronto to Vancouver to Iqaluit to St. John’s, and any fans living outside Canada: we wanted to say “sorry”.
We’re sorry that some fans of Raptor Nation at the Scotiabank arena, Jurassic Park, and in some bars/restaurants showing the game, displayed an ugly side of fandom when they cheered on the injury of Kevin Durant.
This isn’t cool. This isn’t right. This isn’t what I expect from fellow Canadians.
Yes, we’re hungry for a championship however true NBA fans would never cheer on a man getting injured or wave goodbye as they limp to the locker-room area.. KD is a player that brings up the game of basketball. This NBA Playoffs have had a lot of ugly fan moments. From racist tweets being hurled at Nav Bhatia, Raptor superfan to part-owners shoving players … there have been a lot of heated moments throughout these playoffs.
Both of the examples had crazy fans that did not reflect their team’s fanbase. I’d like to believe that the people cheering / waving goodbye at KD inside Scotiabank and in Jurassic Park also do not reflect our passionate fanbase.
I know for the next few days the sports talk shows won’t be talking about the game much… they’ll be talking about how crappy our fans are.
So I’d like to at least do my part in turning lemons into lemonade and showing the world how uncrappy we are.
Join me in sending our well-wishes to KD as he recovers. He’s put his blood, sweat and tears in this beautiful sport. Let’s give back to something he’s passionate about – helping to enrich the lives of at-risk youth from low-income backgrounds through educational, athletic and social programs through the Kevin Durant Charity Foundation.
After one day, 562 have donated to the campaign raising almost $14,000.