They stand for the national anthem. They give back to their community in meaningful ways. And they get buckets.
In the Trump era, activism has never been more powerful for the players of the National Basketball Association. From LeBron James to Stephen Curry to even coaches like Gregg Popovich and Steve Kerr, the NBA has played a balancing act between remaining respectful of such contentious issues like kneeling during the national anthem — where players league-wide are mandated to stand — and speaking out on issues and causes they believe in.
It’s the type of activism that has elicited the response from Fox News host Laura Ingraham where she said that basketball players should just “shut up and dribble.”
In a new in-game video compiled by members of the Sacramento Kings and Boston Celtics going into their Sunday matchup, players spoke about the death of an unarmed black man, 22-year-old Stephon Clark, at the hands of Sacremento police, who shot him 20 times in his grandmother’s backyard. Reports said police thought his cellphone was a gun.
Accountability. We Are One. #StephonClark pic.twitter.com/123y5etYdE
— Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) March 25, 2018
In the video, the players together say: “These tragedies have to stop. There must be accountability. Black, white, brown. We are one. […] We will not stick to sports. We will not shut up and dribble. This is bigger than basketball. Change can be uncomfortable. Change is necessary. We need to talk. We need to act. We matter. We must unite. Say his name: Stephon Clark.”
Aside from the video, Clark’s death and the circumstances surrounding it make you question what reason police officers could possibly have to justify the use of force needed to “neutralize” him and whatever “imminent danger” he presented. It’s a solemn reminder that, even in light of the pro-gun control rally, the March for Our Lives, and the predominantly white faces who are leading it, young black men are generally perceived as a threat.
In the video posted by the Sacramento Kings, the players aren’t even demanding extreme action. All they’re asking for is accountability. They’re not anti-cop. They all understand they need law enforcement to help protect them at their games, their practices, and whenever they travel. They’re certainly not hypocrites.
And that’s why you have critics make condescending remarks like “shut up and dribble.” NBA players have more power than any other athletes in the four major professional sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, and NHL), and they’re making valid criticisms of President Trump as well as our institutions and demand they be held to a higher standard.
What’s commendable about NBA players in the Trump era is that they’re being reasonable, and, above all, they’re not opining on politics at every waking moment. They speak up when they have to, and they don’t let it define who they are.
Not only are their players able to speak out on politics, but they’re doing it without suffering from the trap that the NFL fell into: diminishing viewership. The NBA is enjoying a ratings surge this season because the level of play has been able to back up the political talk. Every league should take notes on how the NBA is doing it.
