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.
The NBA, as Silver noted in the interview, has had a rule "that preceded David Stern" dating to 1981 that mandates players, coaches and team staff members "to be present, stand and line up in a dignified posture" during the playing of the American and Canadian national anthems
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 29, 2020
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.
Behind-the-scenes discussions among players have been intensifying for days here at the NBA Bubble as they seek to make a social justice statement in united fashion during anthems here … and, as @NYTSports first reported Monday, coaches have been holding talks to join them
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) July 29, 2020
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.
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