NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday that the league’s decision to address social justice issues during its restart of season in Orlando was “unforgivable” given the current climate in the country.
“To be honest, it makes me uncomfortable. I understand critics who say they turn to sports to avoid controversy,” Silver said in an interview with Sports Illustrated published Wednesday. “But it’s indestructible in our country at the moment. I wish there was an easier path for us to follow right now. Even if that was, I do not think it would necessarily have to do the responsible thing. “
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The competition created social justice caused a major tenet of their plans to resume playing in the bubble at Walt Disney World resort. Players were allowed to display a pre-approved list of messages on their jerseys highlighting major issues and the league has chosen not to enforce its long-standing policy that players require for the national anthem.
Thousands of NBA players knelt during the national anthem to raise awareness about racial injustice and police brutality following the death of George Floyd while in police custody in Minneapolis.
The league’s approach has drawn controls from several leading politicians, including sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., Who last month called for Silver to testify before Congress regarding the NBA’s dealings with China. Critics have claimed that the NBA’s list of pre-approved messages contained nothing related to pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, months after the tweet of Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey in support of protesters triggered an international incident.
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President Trump has also publicly criticized the NBA, telling Maria Bartiromo of FOX Business Network that league officials have been “bought off” by China.
‘You ever notice it, they always say,’ Russia, Russia, Russia ‘, they do not call it’ China, China, China, ‘because most of these people, as you look at the NBA, they are bought by China “Trump said. ‘China is, you know, the big pot of gold.
Silver said he believes NBA fans can separate the message of social justice from playing on the field.
“I think our fans can be separated on the floor as messages about the players’ jerseys as on the floor,” Silver added. “Even to the extent that they do not, I think they recognize that these are not simple times. Our players are not one-dimensional people, and they can both worry about problems facing our country and at the same time. perform their craft at the highest level. “
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