Mike Ehrmann / Associated Press
Los Angeles Lakers guard / forward LeBron James told reporters he expected the NBA to make former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick proud after the pregame protests during the National anthem.
Mark Medina @ @MarkG_Medina
LeBron James kneeling down during the hymn to protest systemic racism: “I hope we have made Kaep proud.” LeBron then explains his gratitude for the military https://t.co/FHYWyD06Hm
“Kap was someone who stood up when times were not comfortable,” said James (h / t Lauren A. Jones of the Los Angeles Sentinel) “When people didn’t understand … it had absolutely nothing to do with the flag, he explained that and people never listened. I did! We just thank him for sacrificing everything he did.”
Kaepernick knelt down during the national anthem to protest systemic racism and police brutality during the 2016 NFL season.
As Rhiannon Walker (then from The Undefeated) noted in an aggregation of responses to Kaepernick’s actions, the quarterback received praise, harsh criticism, and some mixed reactions to his work in the world of sports.
Ultimately, Kaepernick found himself out of a job in the NFL after the 2016 season despite his production on a mostly dying team of the 49ers (18 total touchdowns and only four interceptions in 11 games).
On Thursday, the players, coaches, and referees who participated in the Utah Jazz vs. Games. New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers vs. The Los Angeles Clippers knelt during the anthem, featuring players wearing “Black Lives Matter” jerseys.
NBA @ @NBA
@Utahjazz and @PelicansNBA kneel in solidarity as @JonBatiste plays the national anthem before the NBA restart. https://t.co/dQeHSbUx87
the Los Angeles Lakers @ @Lakers
United for a greater cause. #BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/dthLmon0a7
NBA players have continued to promote the fight for social justice while playing the rest of the season on the league’s Walt Disney World campus near Orlando, Florida, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused a suspension of four and a half months. of the 2019-20 campaign that begins on March 11.
James exposed the league’s messages in a post-game interview with NBA TV and NBA about TNT reporter Jared Greenberg after his team’s 103-101 victory, which was capped by his winning shot with 12.8 seconds remaining and the subsequent closing defense at the other end:
NBA on TNT @ @NBAonTNT
“We want to keep putting our foot on the gas … continue to spread love across the United States.” @KingJames discusses NBA reboot and social change with @JaredSGreenberg. https://t.co/HubuVKV03X
He also posted this Instagram caption associated with a picture of him raising his fist as he knelt down during the anthem on Thursday: “What is your purpose in life? Creating change, motivating and inspiring others are some of mine! I just hope Keep it up! It makes everyone proud! I love you all! ❤️❤️❤️✊🏾✊🏾 #BlackLivesMatter #ThankYouKap #JusticeForBreonnaTaylor. 💔 “
Players’ messages have been presented in a variety of ways, with some voicing ideas during post-game press conferences or after practice.
It is noteworthy that after Utah’s 104-102 victory over the Pels, jazz guard Donovan Mitchell revealed a bulletproof vest that listed people killed due to police brutality:
Taylor Rooks @ @TaylorRooks
A statement: Donovan Mitchell has a bulletproof vest. The vest features the names of numerous people killed due to police brutality. Add the quote “Am I next?” https://t.co/wUp1QYYNQk
Additionally, players from all four teams listed messages on the back of their jerseys in support of social justice, with examples including “Say Your Name,” “Equality,” and “Black Lives Matter.”
The NBA restart will continue on Friday with six more games, beginning with the Orlando Magic’s tilt with the Brooklyn Nets at 2:30 pm ET.
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