New Orleans Pelicans veteran JJ Redick was one of the players who knelt during the national anthem on Thursday night before the first game of the restarted NBA season against the Utah Jazz.
Redick was asked Thursday night about President Trump’s tweet that the “game is over” for him if he sees any players kneeling during the national anthem. Since that tweet, several MLB players knelt during the anthem during their opening series, and NBA players followed suit.
NBA ADAM SILVER SUPPORTS PLAYERS WHO Kneel During National Anthem, Will Not Enforce Standing League Rule
As for Redick, he believed that no one in the league really thought twice if Trump was watching them play.
“First of all, I don’t think anyone in the NBA cares if President Trump watches basketball.” I couldn’t care less, ”he told Yahoo Sports. “As far as his base is concerned, I think that regardless of the specificity of tweeting about the NBA, each tweet is meant to be divided, each tweet is meant to incite, each tweet is meant to embolden their base.” So [last week] it was no different. “
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver seemed to support the players and coaches who knelt during the national anthem to protest against racial injustice and police brutality.
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Silver released a statement to The New York Times moments after pelicans and jazz players and coaches knelt during the anthem on Thursday. The Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers did the same thing in their game later that night.
“I respect the unified act of peaceful protest by our teams for social justice and, in these unique circumstances, I will not enforce our long-standing rule that requires us to remain during the execution of our national anthem,” Silver said.
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George Floyd’s death, implicated by the police, seemed to change the league’s positions on supporting social justice initiatives. So much so, the league allowed players to choose a pre-approved message to wear on the back of their jersey for the restarted season.
