Spurs legend Tim Duncan pledges $250,000 to Irma relief, will match first $1 million of donations

SAN ANTONIO – As noted in his Player's Tribune article, San Antonio Spurs legend Tim Duncan doesn't have Facebook and doesn't use Twitter -- so on Friday night, many were stunned to see Duncan had penned a heartfelt call for support for his home: the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"Right now as I type this, the U.S. Virgin Islands — the place where I was born and where I grew up — has been badly damaged by Hurricane Irma," Duncan wrote."The people there, many of whom are old friends of mine, are suffering. Weather reports say that another Category 5 storm, Hurricane Jose, is close behind. No one knows what the place will look like when the rain stops."

Duncan donated $250,000 to Hurricane Irma relief and has agreed to match up to $1 million in donations. 

CLICK HERE TO DONATE

"I promise I wouldn’t be asking if it didn’t matter so much," Duncan said. "The basketball community has already given so much to me over the years. But right now I need your attention for a couple of minutes."

Duncan's girlfriend, Vanessa Macias tweeted the link to Duncan's plea for help on Friday night. In under an hour, the fundraiser had garnered $20,000 of support.

Duncan said he understands not everyone can give after Harvey devastated communities physically and financially, but made a promise to those who could.

"Every dollar donated will go directly to relief efforts on the ground," Duncan said. "Starting as soon as the weather permits, I’ll be chartering an airplane full of supplies from San Antonio to St. Croix, the biggest town in the Virgin Islands. And I’m already busy putting together a team — some from the Virgin Islands and some who will fly in from elsewhere — to help manage the relief effort."

While Duncan is accepting monetary donations, he said those interested in making material donations should contact his office as soon as possible to ensure it makes its way to the islands.

Duncan's former teammate Matt Bonner took to Twitter to note how rare it is for Duncan to speak publicly about anything.

Fans enjoyed the simplicity of his call to action. 

The article comes after Duncan's Foundation and business, the BlackJack Speed Shop, partnered to donate supplies to victims of Hurricane Harvey.