The National Basketball Players Association and the NBA reached an agreement Friday on social justice messages that can be shown above the numbers on the backs of jerseys when the league resumes play July 30, a source informed ESPNs The Undefeated.
Via email, gamers were warned of a list of social messages– agreed upon by both the NBPA and NBA– that can be displayed throughout the first 4 days of the season restart because area on the jersey that does not include their last name, source informed The Undefeated.
Gamers can have a first and second choice, however they do not need to utilize the space for a social message if they do not want to, the source said. After the first four nights, a player can still opt to have the message in that area, however their last name will be underneath.
1 RelatedThe list of the approved recommended social messages, per the source, are: Black Lives Matter; Say Their Names; Vote; I Cant Breathe; Justice; Peace; Equality; Freedom; Enough; Power to the People; Justice Now; Say Her Name; Sí Se Puede (Yes We Can); Liberation; See United States; Hear United States; Respect United States; Love United States; Listen; Listen to United States; Stand Up; Ally; Anti-Racist; I Am A Man; Speak Up; How Many More; Group Economics; Education Reform; and Mentor.
The personalized statements belong to a long list of social justice messages the gamers prepare to provide over the remainder of the season, which will reboot at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida.
The NBA and NBPA revealed an agreement on June 24 to continue to talk about battling systemic bigotry and to make it among the focuses of the reboot.
Earlier today, a source told The Undefeated that players decided not to use the names of those who have actually died in authorities custody or in racially motivated incidents on the backs of their jerseys. There were concerns about upseting individuals near to someone whose name may not be used, and over problems getting permission from making it through relative.
NBA players were included in nationwide protests, vocal on social media and active in the aftermath of George Floyds death on May 25 in Minneapolis and Breonna Taylors death on March 13 in Louisville, Kentucky, at the hands of cops.
