More details have emerged pertaining to the Kyrie Irving-led conference call involving nearly 100 NBA players over the weekend. The call served as a venue for the participants to air their thoughts on the league's decision to see out the remainder of the season in the Florida bubble. One of the players on the call was National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and the veteran had a clear message for everyone on the call.
ESPN's Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski report Paul told players they were free to not participate, but there would be financial consequences:
NBPA president Chris Paul joined Irving's call Friday night, and he told members more than once that they were certainly free to make personal choices on playing again, but they did need to consider and understand the financial implications of staying home, sources said.
Guys like Irving have been vocal about their concerns about the NBA resuming play this summer. The belief of Irving's faction is that by seeing out the remainder of the campaign, the NBA will serve as a distraction for the American people. They're afraid that the spectacle of the NBA will make people forget about the Black Lives Matter movement and the fight against racial discrimination. There are also still concerns about health and safety.
One prominent personality who does not agree with this notion is none other than Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James. The three-time NBA champ was reportedly a notable absence during the call. However, James has made his position clear previously. He has every intention to play in the Florida bubble because he believes it would be a great avenue for him to let his voice be heard even louder. Instead of looking at it as a distraction, LeBron intends to use the NBA's return as a tool to further promote his beliefs.
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