Basketball Hall of Famer and current Charlotte owner Michael Jordan have reportedly worked with Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook to better understand the concerns of players who boycotted Wednesday’s games and were initially open to canceling the season.
By Thursday, players had agreed to the 2020 NBA Playoffs, and it looks like Jordan played a major role.
As the only black majority owner of the NBA and still respectful of his playing days, Jordan was in a unique position to serve as an effective link between owners and players. ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan explains:
Jordan reached out to President Paul Paul of the National Basketball Players Association, league sources told ESPN, prior to the owners’ meeting to gain a better understanding of what the players hoped to achieve in the future and to offer assistance. if they make their case to the NBA Board of Directors. Jordan also spoke with Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook about issues of social justice that initially left some stars arguing for the season’s cancellation.
Nine times All-Star, Westbrook and Jordan have long been close. In fact, the 2017 MVP has an approval contract with the Jordan Brand.
Per MacMullan Jordan urged other owners to allow players to express their frustrations and concerns in a meeting between the sides in front of offer one of their own solutions. Media reports Wednesday indicated that Lakers superstar LeBron James was of the belief that NBA owners had not done enough to support the players over these issues.
“Right now, listening is better than talking,” Jordan told the owners, according to MacMullan. According to sources, she said owners were unanimous in their support of the players and spent much of Thursday’s meeting discussing ways they could help strengthen the players’ voice.
The Rockets, for example, announced Thursday a plan to use its Toyota Center home arena as a hub for election votes. Houston owner Tilman Fertitta also spoke out against U.S. President Donald Trump, who had made comments that were critical of NBA politics.
For his part, Westbrook has been personally active in the “Black Lives Matter” movement. When combined with a long and leading career, this gives him a leadership platform with players on this issue.
The 2020 NBA Playoffs are expected to begin again for the Rockets on Friday or Saturday with Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. A rescheduling schedule will be released later Thursday.
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