JaVale McGee of the Los Angeles Lakers has revealed to Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports what the back of his jersey will say: “Respect Us.”
NBA commissioner Adam Silver detailed how the league will allow players to change the back of their jerseys to represent slogans to bring awareness and respect to the ongoing protests around the country representing the Black Lives Matter movement.
With police still attacking unarmed protesters unchecked on a daily basis, this is a nice move from the league, though committing funds to various BLM programs would likely be more appreciated – though politically impossible.
McGee, the Lakers' starting center, joins a host of other players who will have a slogan on the back of their jersey. Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers has announced that his jersey will say “How Many More?,” asking a powerful and deeply troubling question about the deaths of innocent black men over the years in American history.
Enes Kanter of the Boston Celtics and Marvin Bagley III of the Sacramento Kings will both have jerseys that say “Freedom,” which is what the U.S. is meant to represent, but often leads to its opposite for many black people around the country.
Jamal Crawford of the Brooklyn Nets, who was at long last signed after being deemed “a walking bucket who put up 51 points in his final game” ever since the 2019-20 season began, will have “Equality” on the back of his jersey.
Players want to spread awareness with the huge following the NBA will have once it returns – an important task that these players all seem up to.
McGee and the Lakers have the best record in the Western Conference standings. The team will use its eight seeding games to knock off the rust before the 2020 playoffs start.
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