Steve Kerr might not be taking part in the NBA bubble, but the Golden State Warriors head coach hasn't shied away from being a major voice against racial injustice.
In light of the New Orleans Pelicans, Utah Jazz, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers kneeling during the national anthem, the Warriors coach took to explaining why players, coaches, and staff chose to collectively kneel during the singing of the anthem:
“With NBA games now in full force, the inevitable race baiting ‘kneeling is a sign of disrespect!' tweets are coming,” Steve Kerr tweeted Friday, prefacing a concise explanation. “Our message is clear: We love our country. And we also believe that this nation can and must do better to eliminate racism and bigotry. That is why we kneel.”
Kerr has heard all the diatribe criticizing NBA players for being willing to kneel during the national anthem. The discussion has gone from sports radio and right-wing television to the President of the United States, as Donald Trump noted he would stop watching basketball if players dared to kneel.
Unlike other sports, the NBA, the NBPA, and the NBA Coaches' Association has been firmly united in sentiment. Players are wearing social justice messages in their jerseys, coaches have a pin they wear abreast, and staff are sporting “Black Lives Matter” digs, supporting the movement all the way through.
Pelicans sharpshooter JJ Redick recently argued no one in the NBA cares if Trump watches basketball — and Kerr likely falls into that group as well.
The hope is that the league gets the message across clearly: racism, bigotry, and abuse of power must stop if the NBA and other sports are to stand up for the anthem again. Until that happens, a lot of knees will hit the hardwood during the rest of this NBA season.
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