How NBA players are turning technical fouls into philanthropy

The National Basketball Players’ Association is using players’ fine money to give back to the community.

With four minutes and 35 seconds left in the third quarter of the Los Angeles Lakers’ 110-97 victory over the New York Knicks on Sunday, Luka Dončić — upset over what he considered a missed call — made a gesture with his hands that indicated the referees were receiving money for slanted officiating.

The NBA didn’t take too kindly to the implication, announcing Tuesday that Dončić would be fined $50,000 for the “unprofessional gesture.”

Where will that $50,000 go? Thanks in large part to the National Basketball Players’ Association, Dončić’s check will ultimately be put to good use thanks to the “Fined and Philanthropic” program, a union initiative that turns players’ fines into matching grants for charitable causes.

While the matching grants have been in place since 2015, it has kicked into high gear over the last two years because of the arrival of Erika Swilley, executive director of the union’s foundation, who coined the “Fined and Philanthropic” campaign to promote use of the funds. After nearly two decades working with NBA teams, Swilley has taken it upon herself to help players use the union's matching grant program.

“One thing that I'm trying to do in my role is change how players think about philanthropy and their strategy,” Swilley told NBC News. “I want them to realize that they have a unique platform to really give back and help others and that there's ways for them to go deeper than your traditional turkey giveaways or backpack giveaways, which are all great. But how do you take that same money and feed a family for a year? Take that same money and impact a classroom for a school year?”