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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees has received plenty of backlash following the comments he made on Wednesday with respect to kneeling during the national anthem. Brees said he would “never” agree with fellow NFL players choosing to kneel, even if they did so in peaceful protest of police brutality and racial injustice.
Numerous NFL players spoke out against Brees' message. However, the criticisms have not been reserved just for Brees' peers. A multitude of NBA players also responded to his comments.
Atlanta Hawks point guard and NBA All-Star Trae Young could only offer one word: “Wow.”
Wow… just… Wow🤦🏽♂️🤬
— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) June 3, 2020
Brees' words hit closer to home for Phoenix Suns swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. Oubre, who grew up in New Orleans and said he was a fan, called Brees' remarks “tone deaf.”
Being from New Orleans and growing up a fan … that hurts #ToneDeaf #ItsBiggerThanYourEgo
— t$unami (@KELLYOUBREJR) June 3, 2020
Brees suggested his argument with those kneeling in protest stemmed from his grandfather's service in the military. However, New Orleans Pelicans guard Josh Hart, like many others, rebuffed that angle.
The NBA swingman pointed out the initial onus behind San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick's decision to kneel stemmed from a desire to promote awareness of “police brutality and racial injustices.”
Never was about disrespecting the armed forces. It’s about police brutality and racial injustices in our country. This country can’t be unified if African Americans are unjustly killed in the street because of the color of their skin https://t.co/BzRZgkOYnU
— Josh Hart (@joshhart) June 3, 2020
Former NBA player and current Alabama State basketball head coach Mo Williams had a similar message, pointing out his father and uncles served in the military.
My brother is a West Point grad. My dad served our country along with my uncles…… I can go on and on. Smdh just don’t get it https://t.co/n8d7rm9nSG
— Mo Williams (@mowilliams) June 3, 2020
Others around the NBA simply reacted with shock and disgust.
Drew brees come on now
— Miles Bridges (@MilesBridges) June 3, 2020
Drew Brees…
— Troy Brown Jr (@Troy_Brown33) June 3, 2020
Wth Drew Brees Come on man
— Chris Boucher (@chrisboucher) June 3, 2020
Damn Drew
— Jarred Vanderbilt (@JVando) June 3, 2020
Plenty of athletes and coaches — including Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll — have brought up Kaepernick's peaceful form of protest following a week of demonstrations in the aftermath of George Floyd's death.
Yet there are those, like Brees, who still seem behind in terms of grasping the real messaging and intent behind the protests.
Though he is not among their ranks, Brees still has a massive platform. Players around the NBA were disappointed with how he chose to use that platform.
