As the NBA unveiled their health and safety protocol handbook on Tuesday, one of the major storylines around the league is whether or not some players are going to return to the league due to wanting to keep awareness of the social injustice in this country.
A group of players led by Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets and Avery Bradley of the Los Angeles Lakers have met and discussed changes they want to see happen in the NBA that are important to them. Here is what Bradley had to say to ESPN:
“I agree (the) Orlando (restart) will give the players checks to contribute back into their communities,” Bradley said. “But how much of that bubble check are players actually able to contribute? Why (is) all of the responsibility being put on the players?”
There was an interesting segment on Get Up on Wednesday with Stephen A. Smith, former NBA player Matt Barnes, and ESPN analyst and former Vice President of the NFL Players Association Executive Committee and Chief Operating Officer of the NBAPA Dominique Foxworth about the NBA restart and the group thinking about sitting out games due to raising awareness for the Black Lives Matter movement. Remember, players have until June 24 to decide whether or not they will participate in the restart. Barnes mentioned that he has spoke to players that are close to the movement.
“In regard to the Black Lives Matter movement, the players have to understand the moment… We have to be able to seize the moment. I am not against players sitting out, but I am against players sitting out without a plan…just to sit out without a plan is counterproductive,” said Barnes.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime situation if we think back about it. When did the world shut down? When the NBA stopped playing. I think everyone is looking to the NBA to set the tone again and I think this would be a tremendous mistake If players don’t play and then pass this on to football and baseball. Although those sports have players that feel like we feel, they don’t really have the platform and the voices like we do,” added Barnes.
Smith voiced his frustration with Irving, saying if there is no action, it makes sitting out counterproductive.
“I can disagree with Kyrie Irving simply expressing himself without a plan. I applaud what he’s doing in terms of where his heart lies. If it doesn’t come with productivity moving forward, then what have you accomplished? This is not just a moment to me, this is a time, this is our time. It is an opportunity to take the bull by the horn and make it happen.”
Dominique Foxworth added another opinion towards the end of the conversation about why players might think that sitting out might be the way to go to keep the conversations going.
“You have to be ready to hold out. I think it is admirable,” Foxworth said. “I don’t agree with Kyrie as the messenger, but I think it is admirable what they are doing in this moment no matter the timing. What they are doing is using the leverage they have because as soon as they show up, the leverage is gone.”
In addition, he mentioned how playing games does create a way for some people to avoid any uncomfortable conversations about what is happening in America right now.
“This is about making white people uncomfortable, making them face the uncomfortable reality… They say sports is their refuge. We don’t have a refuge as black people…. ESPN, the past several weeks, we have done social stuff just as much as we have done other sports. As soon as they start playing basketball games, we are going to pay lip service to whatever kneeling or shirts that people are wearing…We can’t deny that it does afford some place to exit the conversation.”
Smith and Barnes talked about how a plan is needed in order to raise awareness and Foxworth voiced the frustration that some people are probably feeling right now. It was a debate on Get Up that showed both sides of the story as the dialogue in this country continues.
