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NBA Launches Program to Restart in Orlando
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As a result of an agreement between the NBA and the National Association of Basketball Players, players participating in the upcoming restart of the season will be able to replace the last name on the back of their shirts with a statement about social justice. Shams Charania of The Athletic reported this news on Saturday night.
Another report by Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times notes that this move is being done in conjunction with Nike, who serves as a sponsor of NBA sportswear.
In recent years, the NBA and its players have been quick to adopt a relevant aesthetic in the face of social injustice around this country in the national consciousness, particularly for African Americans. Following Eric Garner’s death at the hands of the New York police, players like LeBron James, Kobe Bryant and Kyrie Irving wore shirts that said “I can’t breathe,” Garner’s final words. The players have also spoken about the recent deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery.
Nike has also lobbied to include anti-racism messages in its advertising, creating a commercial that encourages viewers not to ignore the problem of systemic racism in the United States following the death of George Floyd. While NBA teams may have multiple iterations of their jerseys for the season, the nameplate is often left intact. The last time it was changed, however, was in 2014, when the NBA released jerseys that would have player nicknames on the back instead of their last names.
