Milwaukee Bucks swingman Kyle Korver is speaking up about supporting his teammates and people of color during a time of social upheaval in the United States.

Korver, a 39-year-old one-time All-Star in his first season with the Bucks, told retired NBA swingman Richard Jefferson about his feelings regarding the priority of addressing social change (via Bleacher Report):

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“If we think that is the best way for change, I care more about change happening than a championship. On the other side, I am on a team that feels like we could win. And I have never won. I would like to win. So is there a way to do both? I think there's a conversation there. But again, I'm going to follow the lead of my black brothers and teammates on this.”

It has been a very difficult time in the U.S. for the landscape of both professional and amateur athletics. After the NBA suspended its season in mid March due to concerns about the coronavirus pandemic, players and observers waited three months for definitive news on when the season could resume.

Now, with a plan in place and proposal approved by both parties, the season is again in jeopardy. This time it is due to longstanding issues of social injustice and police brutality afflicting the black and brown communities reemerging in the public's eye. The Bucks' Korver understands the responsibility he and other NBA players have to their communities and some are worried restarting the season would take away from these efforts.

Korver, a 17-year NBA veteran, may have to pause his championship aspirations on the Eastern Conference's best team, the Milwaukee Bucks, and instead show solidarity in supporting his teammates' wishes if putting the season on the back burner is amenable to addressing real social change.