It was earlier reported that players from the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans intend to take a knee during the playing of the national anthem during the first game of the NBA restart scheduled for Thursday night. League commissioner Adam Silver has shared his two cents on the matter.

Silver admitted that he is not in a position to confirm what the players intend to do, while also stating that he has nothing against the protests against systemic racism.

“I respect peaceful protest,” Silver said, via NBA insider Marc Stein. “I'm not sure what our players will do when they come out tomorrow night and we'll of course address it at the time, but I also understand these are highly unusual times.”

Then again, Silver also clarified that the NBA has a long-standing policy pertaining to what players should and should not do during the playing of the anthem.

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The NBA head did not mention, however, if sanctions will be given out to players and/or coaches who violate this policy by kneeling during the anthem.

Stein also reports that the players themselves have been locked in discussions with regards to this matter, with their primary objective of having a united front.

We are only days away from the official restart of the season, and it will be interesting to see what the players will do during the playing of the anthem. Should the players decide to kneel during the anthem, the NBA will not be the first professional league that will be subjected to this form of protest.