Social tensions in the United States are as high as they’ve ever been with discussions of racial justice at the forefront of numerous injustices occurring in the country. As these talks continue, there has been a recent influx of athletes becoming more vocal in making their opinions known.
In the NFL, Colin Kaepernick famously protested social injustices by taking a knee during the national anthem. That decision has contributed to his unemployment as the football season gets underway.
In the NBA, however, players have been much more free to voice their concerns. That’s not changing anytime soon. According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, the league and the players union have issued a letter to players encouraging social activism:
NBA commissioner Adam Silver and National Basketball Players Association executive director Michele Roberts co-signed a preseason letter to the league’s players encouraging them in the pursuit of social consciousness.
In the letter, obtained by ESPN, Silver and Roberts told the players, “None of us operates in a vacuum. Critical issues that affect our society also impact you directly. Fortunately, you are not only the world’s greatest basketball players — you have real power to make a difference in the world, and we want you know that the Players Association and the League are always available to help you figure out the most meaningful way to make that difference.”
Cynically speaking, this seems like the NBA trying to influence how players demonstrate their activism. NEvertheless, it does not seem like the league will enforce anything, instead allowing players to educate themselves and become socially aware individuals who can use their platforms to influence others.