NBA NBA Allows Players to Change Jersey Name to Message of Social Justice

[John Price]

The NBA could help their ratings issue by putting in more parity, but hey, the league has experimented with relevance for years trying to make things like the NBA ASG (still a travesty) and the NBA season interesting. It was only a few months ago that they explored a mid-season tournament " just for fun". To be fair, the NBA is not the only one exploring such wacky ideas.

I don't mind the social justice as long as it's not hypocritical. It seems to be too selective. Like, do what you want but don't criticize our business partners even if they engage in dubious practices.

 

[Troy McClure]

Doc Rivers speaking from the heart.

 

[Terry Yake]

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Good for them, enough is enough.

 

[daver]

A somewhat empty gesture for the cause, not that I have high expectations for athletes to make political gestures, and an empty cause relatively speaking to the issues that some black people face that places them in positions where being killed by a cop are much higher in comparison to other demographics i.e. more prone to commit crime.

Would have a ton more respect for them using their status as public figures and/or wealth to influence on the ground change in communities that need support. If you are going to claim "systemic racism" exists then you should be willing to do whatever is needed to institute "systemic" change; putting something on your jersey doesn't accomplish this.

 

[John Price]

Big Lakers fan here

I respecdt what they and Clippers are doing to boycott potentially the rest of the season, at the expense of them not being able to win the title

We must change the way policing is done

 

[daver]

Big Lakers fan here

I respecdt what they and Clippers are doing to boycott potentially the rest of the season, at the expense of them not being able to win the title

We must change the way policing is done

Is this the real issue though?

 

[Five Alarm Fire]

Get woke go Broke

The NBA has a piracy issue. When the next TV deal is up and one of the major streaming platforms picks up the rights, viewership levels will be back to normal. They haven't found a way to cater to cable-cutters yet.

 

[Monk]

Would have a ton more respect for them using their status as public figures and/or wealth to influence on the ground change in communities that need support. If you are going to claim "systemic racism" exists then you should be willing to do whatever is needed to institute "systemic" change; putting something on your jersey doesn't accomplish this.

Tons of NBA players do this all the time.

 

[daver]

Tons of NBA players do this all the time.

Great, let's talk about that rather than giving something that is being hugely politicized a hugely disproportionate amount of attention.

 

[Imnotagoodposter]

Great, let's talk about that rather than giving something that is being hugely politicized a hugely disproportionate amount of attention.

No

 

[daver]

No

Why not? Wouldn't reducing the chances of engaging with police in the first place be a more productive use of time and resources? Especially when the race card is being hugely overplayed.

 

[SouthGeorge]

I really thought the social justice jerseys was going to end all racism. I don't know what happened.

 

[Monk]

Great, let's talk about that rather than giving something that is being hugely politicized a hugely disproportionate amount of attention.

People do talk about it and you're obviously more than welcome to talk about it. I see plenty of media coverage and conversation re: NBA players' ongoing activism and support in their communities. Not sure how you haven't noticed.

Do you truly not see that this social justice messaging is simply a small piece of the puzzle?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I saw this blurb on TSN:

Players feel as if they're "dancing to entertain everybody" when they could be at home protesting or comforting their families

Interesting perspective when you are in the entertainment business.

 

[SouthGeorge]

I saw this blurb on TSN:

Players feel as if they're "dancing to entertain everybody" when they could be at home protesting or comforting their families

Interesting perspective when you are in the entertainment business.

You know that was Kyrie's point from day one...

 

[Rabid Ranger]

You know that was Kyrie's point from day one...

I get it, but I feel there's a slippery slope to "minstrel show" which is the vibe I get from this. You're an athlete (or actor). Your job is to entertain as unsavory as that sounds right now.

 

[bleedblue1223]

I saw this blurb on TSN:

Players feel as if they're "dancing to entertain everybody" when they could be at home protesting or comforting their families

Interesting perspective when you are in the entertainment business.

Then opt out and go home, and I do mean that with all sincerity, do what Rask did. There is no denying that the bubble was going to have an emotional toll on families, especially one with kids, and young kids for many of the players. It's not something that they really signed up for. And then you throw in everything else going on.

It is a bit silly to act like they are dancing to entertain everybody. You are getting paid millions to play a game, you are an entertainer, this isn't new. If you don't want to dance to entertain people, then quit, no one is forcing you to do it.

 

[Shockmaster]

Then opt out and go home, and I do mean that with all sincerity, do what Rask did. There is no denying that the bubble was going to have an emotional toll on families, especially one with kids, and young kids for many of the players. It's not something that they really signed up for. And then you throw in everything else going on.

It is a bit silly to act like they are dancing to entertain everybody. You are getting paid millions to play a game, you are an entertainer, this isn't new. If you don't want to dance to entertain people, then quit, no one is forcing you to do it.

Weren't the NBA players allowed to bring their families into the bubble?

 

[Smirnov2Chistov]

I saw this blurb on TSN:

Players feel as if they're "dancing to entertain everybody" when they could be at home protesting or comforting their families

Interesting perspective when you are in the entertainment business.

Jesus, good luck to the owners on the next CBA.

I've never seen such disconnect between owners and players lmao.

 

[bleedblue1223]

Weren't the NBA players allowed to bring their families into the bubble?

I'll be curious how many actually go, the earliest possible date is 8/31. I know I'd be iffy on bring my family in, many factors to consider.

 

[Monk]

I saw this blurb on TSN:

Players feel as if they're "dancing to entertain everybody" when they could be at home protesting or comforting their families

Interesting perspective when you are in the entertainment business.

I read this not as they're unaware that their job has always been "dancing to entertain everybody," but instead that it doesn't feel great to be doing that during the double-whammy that is the global pandemic and the racial justice movement.

 

[SouthGeorge]

Jesus, good luck to the owners on the next CBA.

I've never seen such disconnect between owners and players lmao.

If the players end these playoffs. I think the owners could rip up the CBA and do whatever they want.

 

[John Price]

if they end the season now there's no 2021 season.

Which makes me giddy as hell as I'm more of a hockey fan anyway.

 

[hyduK]

Is this the real issue though?

I mean, yes? Obviously. Been the problem for a while

Undertrained, underqualified, low barrier to entry, disproportionately attracts those who seek power, no meaningful discipline/action taken for those that abuse it, allowed to investigate themselves, the good cops are silenced and blackballed for speaking out which effectively results in all cops being bad.

Tear the whole institution down and start anew.