Nearly 40 players dialed in to a Zoom conference on the afternoon of July 19 from their hotel rooms inside Disney's Grand Floridian, Yacht Club and Gran Destino Tower at Coronado Springs resorts. Thursday's demonstration will showcase their effort on the national stage, but many NBA players have been using their platform to advocate for change since they arrived at the Florida campus in early July. "I've always trusted our players to do what is best and to do what's in their hearts." "There's a lot of buzz that I've been hearing," National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts said, referring to the potential for players to kneel. The coaches are expected to join the players in the demonstration. Instead of having two groups protest separately, both teams want to display a united front, sources said. They discussed how they could use the opening game of the restart to send a message.Ī plan was formed: Both the Jazz and the Pelicans will kneel around the Black Lives Matter wording near center court - the only thing on the hardwood beyond the NBA logo and lines governing play - in a show of solidarity during the national anthem. IN THE DAYS leading up to the NBA restart, Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell connected with New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday. MORE: Why the only NBA player who wears 'Sr.' on his jersey chose a different message We're going to keep finding great ways to get our message across." "We have a lot of great players and great leadership. It's going to be our job and the league's job to give you the entertainment and still give you the message at the same time. "People love sports, and it takes you away from whatever you got going on. "Our performance on the court is a distraction," VanVleet said. With play resuming, players have been determined that these discussions about racial inequality and police brutality against Black people won't fade. Although they are still determining how to best promote their cause, the past few weeks have seen an increased push from players, coaches and the league leading up to Thursday night's restart opener inside the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. I thought that was a big, big gesture for sure by the team."Īfter some considered not playing, many NBA players chose to enter the bubble in large part because they saw an opportunity to use their platform to amplify their message. They probably weren't going to be too happy with this bus. "That was the first time I really thought about it. "I was looking out the window like, 'Oh s-,'" VanVleet said. The defending NBA champions were sending a message as they entered the bubble on July 9.Īlong the three-hour trek north, VanVleet said, the buses passed through neighborhoods with manicured lawns featuring signs endorsing President Donald Trump, who called the Black Lives Matter movement a "symbol of hate" earlier this month. "They didn't even tell us they were doing that." He saw "Black Lives Matter" in large, white letters across each side of two buses that had arrived to take the Raptors to the NBA's campus at Walt Disney World Resort. The Toronto Raptors guard squinted, his eyes adjusting to the sunlight as the words came into focus. How the NBA bubble has become a platform for social justiceįRED VANVLEET TRUDGED from the lobby of the Ritz-Carlton Naples, out the double doors and into the stifling Florida humidity. You have reached a degraded version of because you're using an unsupported version of Internet Explorer.įor a complete experience, please upgrade or use a supported browser
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