Following the Pacers’ 120-112 overtime loss to the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 15, a fan requested $100 from Turner through the mobile payment service, blaming him for the loss. Turner, who in 36 minutes registered 11 points, six blocks, six rebounds, two assists and five fouls in the game, ignored the request.
When the fan re-sent it, Turner ignored it again. “Who is this guy?” he recalled thinking. The third time provoked a response. Turner decided to play along, paying the fan his attention and a penny.
The payment wasn’t well received. “Hey @Original_Turner I don’t appreciate the Venmo after your performance against the bulls,” the fan tweeted Thursday. Turner’s response exposed their tiff and his Venmo account. But instead of more restitution requests, he received a minor windfall as fans sent him pennies — and in some cases, much more.
“All those pennies [and] two cents in a matter of three or four hours added up to $230 just like that,” he said, adding that he and his friend decided to flip the small fortune into a fundraiser. He tweeted that he would match whatever he received and send it to help families affected by this week’s winter storm and subsequent
power outages in Texas.
His business manager, Lavelt Page, told
ESPN that Turner is targeting charitable organizations and five to 10 families to help with issues such as homelessness and water damage.
“I’m already at $12,235, and I’m going to match all those donations,” Turner said Saturday.
Later, the National Basketball Players Association joined the cause, also offering to match those donations until his impromptu fundraiser ends Sunday night.
