Heated Western Conference rivals Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers showed solidarity by taking a knee during the national anthem prior to their NBA bubble opener on Thursday.
Clad in black warmers with the message “Black Lives Matter”, players and coaches from both sides performed the controversial gesture to protest police brutality and racial inequality.
The @LAClippers and @Lakers kneel in solidarity as the Compton Kidz Club performs the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/1WImoaHBsQ
— NBA (@NBA) July 31, 2020
The New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz also bent the knee earlier in the first game of the NBA restart inside ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
While the two LA-based squads do share a fiery rivalry, it's nice to see them set aside their differences for a much bigger purpose. Lakers superstar LeBron James even vowed to continue fighting for the cause while performing their duties as professional athletes.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, meanwhile, has already confirmed that the league won't penalize teams who will choose to kneel during the anthem.
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