Do you hear what I hear? The sound of silence during the Finals from the NBA is deafening, yet refreshing at the same time. I have always tried to separate politics from sports, as have most American sports fans. One is our collective escape from the realities of the other. No matter what side of the political fence you stand on, this is not meant to be a statement but rather a compliment—and a moment to celebrate.
It’s no secret that our country is not the same nation we once grew up in. There are more ways for people to consume, disseminate, and speak out about news and information than ever before. The fight for likes and the desire to go viral have taken over conversation and debate. We are more divided than ever, but all yearning for a day when we can regain respect for our collective differences—as they are what make our country the greatest in the world.
Recently, in times of despair, professional sports and athletes have found ways to use their platforms and share their voices. In times of crisis and social division, athletes and franchises alike have instantly shared their voices of support or dissent. With the recent events in Los Angeles and around the country—where protests are continuing to grow in disagreement with the actions of the current administration—do you hear what I hear? Am I seeing this right?
Has the NBA Decided Speaking Out Isn’t Always Best?
The NBA is considered by many as the most progressive sports league among the top four in the United States. The league has actively engaged in dialogue and actions related to social justice issues, with players and league officials speaking out on matters such as police reform and racial inequality. During his tenure, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has encouraged his players to speak out and has supported franchises in doing the same.
Following the death of Eric Garner in 2014, many players—including LeBron James—donned t-shirts in pre-game warmups stating, “I can’t breathe.” In the aftermath of the death of George Floyd, NBA players wore “Black Lives Matter” shirts, and during the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the league had the same slogan painted on the court of play while players took a collective knee during the national anthem in protest.
We cannot forget that the actions of the league and its players caused further division among fans of the game. On one hand, the demonstrations showed support, while on the other, some were turned off by the league’s actions—leading to heated discourse on social media and divisive debate in sports media circles around the country.
Do you hear what I hear?
Do you see what I see?
Is it possible that we’ve accepted a new norm—that the NBA is inherently expected to speak out on all social issues—and that when they don’t, it leaves us questioning if they missed the memo?
The Sound of Silence From the City of Angels
The signature event of the NBA is here: the NBA Finals. Yet not a peep, tweet, slogan, or gesture from anyone associated with the NBA about the events of the past week in Los Angeles?
Do you hear what I hear?
Are sports—and particularly the NBA—back to being the collective escape from reality?
There are two teams in Los Angeles. Both the Lakers and the Clippers have been silent on social media, with no statements on the violence, actions and protests in their home city.
LeBron James, the face of the league and one of the leading NBA voices on political issues in recent memory? Silent.
ESPN and ABC commentators? Not a word about the events in Los Angeles, one of the NBA’s biggest markets.
Sports radio in Los Angeles taking a stance on the issue? Nope. Too busy with the Dodgers and NFL OTA activities.
The NBA communications department? Nothing.
Commissioner Adam Silver? He’s been asked more about logos that haven’t appeared for a decade on the NBA Finals court and what he expects from Michael Jordan with NBC Sports next season. Nothing on the events in Los Angeles.
The NBA Finals (so far) have been 100% clean of any political insertion into the discourse of the tournament. We’ve gone from “shut up and dribble” to “anything to add?”
That’s not a bad thing! Isn’t it refreshing to hear nothing and see nothing for a change?
Is ‘Sticking to Sports’ Back in Fashion?
In fact, the NBA should be getting more praise for not allowing the events in Los Angeles to cloud the celebration of crowning a new champion. If silence is golden, Adam Silver and the NBA are striking it rich.
It’s refreshing to hear Tyrese Haliburton talk about the excitement of playing for an NBA championship instead of his political ideology. It’s energizing to hear sports talk radio hosts debate whether television ratings matter to the NBA Finals, rather than what LeBron James tweeted about Donald Trump today.
It’s fantastic that First Take is not filled with Stephen A. Smith ranting about what the NBA and NBA players are saying about the events in Los Angeles. He’s now isolated to his podcast for those political views—because an option is preferred.
The NBA is making a statement by staying silent, and it should be celebrated. Sports are an escape from the tough realities of our day-to-day lives. Games are entertainment, and the players are entertainers whose efforts leave fans marveling at their talent—leaving the challenges of life aside. The NBA Finals are a perfect opportunity to bring people together for the love of competition, where one team will be crowned champion for the first time in their franchise’s history.
The NBA recognizes this. We all should be thankful that—if only for this NBA Finals—sports are back… to just being sports.
Do you hear what I hear? Do you see what I see?
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
