Although it only lasted a few days, the NBA’s league-wide boycott is starting to spark real change. A joint statement between the NBA and NBPA announced that the league will make 3 commitments to social justice.
This statement, along with the boycott that preceded it, comes during a very tumultuous time in the United States and in the world as a whole. The shooting of 29-year old black man Jacob Blake by law enforcement, which helped catalyze the NBA’s commitment, marked yet another act of police brutality that caused civil unrest.
As the season returns on Saturday, the focus will momentarily shift back to basketball, but the NBA’s fight for social justice is far from over.
Time and time again, many players have expressed the need to use their platform to combat such systemic issues, and this goes to show their devotion to the cause. A simple 3-Commitment statement might not be the end goal, but it’s certainly a start.
