The National Basketball Players Association and the NBA reached an agreement Friday on social justice messages that can be displayed on the number on the back of the jerseys when the league resumes play on July 30, a source told The Undefeated from ESPN.
By email, players were informed of a list of social messages, agreed to by both the NBPA and the NBA, that can be displayed in that space on the jersey during the first four days of the restart that does not include his last name, he said the source to The Undefeated.
Players can have a first and second option, but they don’t have to use the space for a social message if they don’t want to, the source said. After the first four nights, a player can still choose to have the message in that space, but their last name will be below it.
The list of suggested social messages approved, according to the source, for the back of the NBA jerseys: Black Lives Matter; Say their names; Vote; I cannot breathe Justice; Peace; Equality; Freedom; Enough; Power to the people; Justice Now; Say her 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.
The personalized statements are part of a long list of social justice messages the players plan to deliver for the remainder of the season, which restarts July 30 at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
The NBA and NBPA announced an agreement on June 24 to continue discussing the fight against systemic racism and make it one of the main focuses of the restart.
Earlier this week, a source told The Undefeated that the players decided not to use the names of those who died in police custody or in racially motivated incidents on the back of their shirts due to concerns about offending people. close to someone whose name may not be used and about difficulties obtaining permission from surviving family members.
NBA players were involved in nationwide protests, social media vocals, and assets after the death of George Floyd on May 25 in Minneapolis and the death of Breonna Taylor on March 13 in Louisville, Kentucky at the hands of from the police.
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