NBA Begins Soon But All Players Are Not Pleased About Returning To The Court

NBA Begins Soon But All Players Are Not Pleased About Returning To The Court

“I Can’t Breathe, I Can’t Breathe.” Three short words struck the heart of the country. As a nation, addressing police brutality and racism in this country should be the main task at hand, and in the midst of what could be the largest civil rights movement of the modern era, the NBA will return to the court. The season is scheduled to restart on July 30 at Disney.

The Black Lives Matter movement is the largest of its kind since the Civil Rights era. The unearthing murder of George Floyd sparked a movement that steadily grows each day. Black Americans refuse to be treated as less than in a country that claims “all men are created equal.” The movement is driven by the younger generation, which includes most players in the NBA. Their status as athletes provides them the platform to speak for those who do not have a voice. Leaders on and off the court speak up about the importance of this time period and why it needs to be taken seriously. Brooklyn Nets star point guard, and NBA champion, Kyrie Irving has been one of the more vocal players, and shared his thoughts during a recent call with other NBA players.

To Irving’s point, certain projects are more important than others, and developing racial equality in America deserves more attention than playing professional basketball. Kyrie expresses his distaste for returning to basketball when another agenda must be addressed. According to Shams Charania, Irving spoke to around 80 players and stated that he did not support going to play in Orlando. He told the players “I’m willing to give up everything I have (for social reform),” and also said, “I’m not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. Something smells a little fishy.”

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Stephen Jackson, a retired player and also NBA champion most notably known for his time with the Indiana Pacers and Golden State Warriors, also emphasizes the urgency of changing the direction of this country. As a close friend of the late George Floyd, Jackson has made it his mission to spend his time supporting his “twin” family and fighting for social justice. One of the most visible faces among the front lines of protests, Jackson would rather see players and resources invested in change as opposed to playing.  “Now ain’t the time to be playing basketball, yall. Now ain’t the time.” via @_stak5_ on Instagram.

The NBA will return to finish out the 2019-20 season after months of a COVID enforced hiatus. Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert became the first player to test positive for the virus on March 11th. The Jazz were preparing to play an away game against the Oklahoma City Thunder when the news broke out. “The Jazz and Thunder players are currently quarantined in the OKC arena, league sources told ESPN. This was following Rudy Gobert testing positive for the coronavirus” (via @wojespn on twitter). On July 30, the first NBA game will take place after 141 days of no competition.

On the other side of the spectrum, Lakers star forward LeBron James, who is globally recognized as the face of the NBA, supports the league’s return. Once quoted saying that he would not play without fans in attendance, James has since changed his stance on the matter and is eager to play again. “I’m looking forward for the season to be restarted,” as stated in his recent television interview with Bloomberg Businessweek. James made it evident that he will play even if it means no fans or staying in the Orlando bubble for months. He believes that restarting the NBA season can be even more beneficial to the movement, knowing that millions will be watching. LeBron understands that his international platform can gather more attention to advance the movement. “I won’t stop until I see change, and I mean real change.”

James will not be the only player to use his stardom for positive purposes. The players can use their personal brands as leverage for the movement. As the season quickly approaches, players become more and more prepared for the upcoming games, but what will the players do to prepare for the more mental battle? If the goal is to strengthen the Black Lives Matter movement, then the players should be ready to do so. The NBA season will restart no matter what, but the ways it affects the societal issues in America will rely on the objectives of the players.