Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is one of the smartest men in the NBA. He’s not only led the Warriors to immense new heights but he’s also been doing it with a level head in the process. He speak eloquently and delivers passionate opinions when the time is right.
Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have all voiced their opinions on doing something to address racial injustices in america. It just so happens these three men are all teammates on the Golden State Warriors, the team Kerr coaches.
So with training camp fast approaching and the season coming right after it, the rumblings begin around the NBA. What players will take a stand like Colin Kaepernick and protest the National Anthem to try and send a message? Oklahoma City Thunder guard Victor Oladipo has already said that a protest from players is coming. The NBPA and NBA are working together to try to handle the situation head on. With the recent murder of Terence Crutcher, the topic was relevant when Kerr recently spoke to the media.
According to Marc J. Spears of ‘The Undefeated’ on ESPN, Kerr feels passionately about this situation. He’s going to support his players potential protest, if its done in the right matter. He also said that Americans should feel disgusted over the recent tragedies.
Check out some of his wonderful words below.
“We will absolutely talk about it as a team before our first game … ,” Kerr said during pre-training camp media availability at the Warriors’ training facility in Oakland, California, on Wednesday. “I talked to some of the guys, and [they asked], ‘What does it mean to you?’ I’ve kind of given them my opinion. We’ve shared thoughts. That’s kind of the way we do things around here.
“We like to talk about stuff, basketball or not. It’s probably one of the best things that’s come out of the Kaepernick issue is that people are talking about it. It’s a good thing.”
“No matter what side of the spectrum you are on, I would hope that every American is disgusted with what is going on around the country, with what happened in Tulsa two days ago, Terence Crutcher,” Kerr said. “It doesn’t matter what side you’re on, on the Kaepernick stuff, you better be disgusted about things that are happening. And so, I understand people who are offended by his stance. Maybe they have a military family member who is offended. Maybe they lost somebody in a war and the flag and the anthem means a lot more to them than someone else.
“But then you flip it around, what about a nonviolent protest? This is America. This is what our country is about. It’s a nonviolent protest. It’s what it should be about. I think Colin has really clarified his message over the last couple of weeks. I think that something similar will happen in the NBA. Nobody has to be right. Nobody has to be wrong. I would hope everyone would respect each other’s point of view. There are valid points of view on both sides.”
Kerr added: “Unarmed black people are being killed indiscriminately around the country. And that’s what happened two days ago. That’s the message. That’s what matters. The other stuff you can talk about all day. Nobody is right. Nobody is wrong.
“But that matters. Everyone should be trying to do something, whatever is in their power, to help in that regard.”
Kerr plans to support his team’s players in their views as long as their message on injustice is “clear.”
“Our guys have been asked a lot about it and they’ve done a great job responding,” Kerr said. “It’s a tricky topic. Not the Kaepernick situation, but social activism in general. It has to come from the heart. There are a lot of fans out there that say, ‘Stick to sports. We’re trying to get away from this by watching your team play.’
“I understand that. On the other hand, these guys have a voice. In my mind, as long as the message is clear, I’m all for people speaking out against injustice no matter what form that takes. If it’s nonviolent and leads to conversation, then I think that’s beautiful.”
