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NBA players are more than just entertainers vying for championship and statistical glory. They are people like you and me. This is why these superstars are taking a stand and using the stage on basketball’s biggest stage Compete for systemic change.
Three days after the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha, Wisconsin, police, NBA players took the bold and unprecedented step of boycotting three playoff games on Wednesday.
Players, including several members of the Celtics team, debated whether to forgo the NBA season and return home. ESPN reported Wednesday night that the players will continue to meet Thursday to discuss further action, and ESPN said Thursday’s games, including Game 1 of the Celtics-Raptors series, are in question, as is the season.
The hope here is that this boycott will spark a racial reform movement led by team owners, NBA officials and sports fans. Because at the end of the day, the 15.5-pound trophy that the winning team gets each year means nothing if the players who hold it and the millions of others across the country are being singled out or photographed. This fight is not new to the Celtics. This battle has been fought ever since Red Aurbach pioneered the “Celtics way” Basketball in the 1950’s.
Reid was the first NBA executive to draft a black player, Duquesne forward Chuck Cooper in 1950. Six years later, Auerbach exploited racism in the St. Louis Hawks’ front office, trading two white players for the Hawks’ first-team selection. Reed used the pick on Bill Russell. He knew St. Louis had no interest in building their franchise around a Lions center.
And we all know the rest. Today’s Celtics roster was also on the front lines of this racial reform movement. Jaylen Brown He led 15 hours of peaceful protest In his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, the Celtics tweeted how To demand action for justice and other members of the Celtics Loud About how important this reason is.
“I mean how many points we scored, and that (whistle) doesn’t matter now,” he said. “Being a black man in America is more important than what I do there on the basketball court. Using my platform, my voice to help create conversations and change is more important than anything I can do there… It’s bigger than basketball.”
These words from Jason Tatum should resonate with all basketball fans. This is the time for the university to step back and use the platform to fight for equality and justice. Because at the end of the day, this is more than just a game.
The rest of the links
Announce: Celtics – Raptors matchup in the second round