When the NBA resumes its season in Orlando next month, the backs of players' jerseys might look different - and for good reason.
According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, the NBA is allowing players to put a social justice statement on their jerseys in place of their last name. The move is similar to the Premier League replacing player last names on jerseys with "Black Lives Matters" for the opening weekend of its return earlier this month.
NBPA sent players initial details on the plan tonight, stating it is working with the league and Nike. NBA and the players union have been discussing various ways to allow players to express social justice issues in season restart. https://t.co/vw1RW2Z6Vj
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2020
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NBA players, including Kyrie Irving and Dwight Howard, have voiced concerns over resuming the season amid nationwide protests against racial injustice following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis - believing it could serve as a distraction from the bigger picture and movement.
The NBA released a statement on June 16 stating the "central goal of our season restart will be to utilize the NBA's platform to bring attention and sustained action to issues of social injustice... ." They mentioned discussions with the NBPA on developing a strategy on how the league, teams and players can address social issues and create change.
NBA has informed all 30 teams of this entering 2019-20 resumption: "A central goal of our season restart will be to utilize the NBA's platform to bring attention and sustained action to issues of social injustice..." pic.twitter.com/qfrRms88Hi
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 16, 2020
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NBA allowing players to put social justice statements on back of jerseys originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago