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Tim BontempsESPN
Philadelphia 76ers forward Mike Scott said the NBA gave players a list of phrases they can put on the back of their jerseys when the season kicks off in Orlando, Florida later this month in Instead of letting players choose what they want to say, she was a “bad lady.”
“They gave us some names and phrases to put on the back of the shirts. It was terrible. It was a bad decision, a bad choice,” Scott said Monday in a conference call with journalists. “They didn’t give the players a chance to express their opinions on it; they just gave us a list to choose from. So that was bad, terrible.
“I’m about to do it, instead of saying and posting, or putting something on the back of your shirt. I don’t think that’s going to stop anything, you know?”
Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated reported Friday that the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association had agreed to the following list of suggested messages: Black Lives Matter; Say their names; Vote; I cannot breathe Justice; Peace; Equality; Freedom; Enough; Power to the people; Justice Now; Say his name; Yes You Can (Yes, We Can); Release; Look at us; Listen to us; Respect us love us; Listens; Listen to us; Get up; Ally; Anti racist; I’m a man; Talk loud; How many more; Group economy; Education reform; and mentor.
Speaking on a separate call Monday, Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown had some other suggestions that he wished the league had allowed the players to use.
“There are many things. I know they all have different reasons why they play … Four hundred and fifty boys, or many who are there, are sending what they think would add to that list and encompass the group that is going down there,” Brown said.
“What would I personally like to see there? Maybe ‘Break the cycle’, putting it on the back of his shirt. ‘Results’, that’s what everyone is really playing. ‘Inequality by design’, perhaps. Things like that could have a deeper impact than some of the things we were given. I think it was a bit limiting. “
NBA players are slated to begin arriving at Walt Disney World Resort on Tuesday, and teams will continue to arrive until Thursday. Teams will have about three weeks to increase and play three practice games, before games begin on July 30.
Scott said it will not be easy to get back to the mindset of focusing on basketball again after everything that has happened in the world in recent months, from the coronavirus pandemic that closed the league on March 11 to the protests. for social justice and against racial inequality and police brutality in the past six weeks.
“You’re trying to change your mindset about what’s going on and be with your family and make sure you’re safe: racism, [coronavirus] – and then turn on and off to go to Orlando and play basketball. It’s easier said than done, “Scott said.” Most people would probably say, ‘This is — it should be easy. Just think of basketball.
“But I don’t know, man, it’s hard to think about it after what has happened in the last two months. I’ve been dealing with it and just trying to exercise every day and prepare my mind for Orlando, but at Al time, how can you not focus on everything else?
“We are coming out of ‘We’ll see.’ I can only say what people are saying, explain what it will be like down there and give us ideas of what is to come. I don’t know anything until I come and see.”
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