Kneeling, a bulletproof vest and silence: How the NBA looked in the first game back
It had been 140 days since the NBA played a game after the league suspended the 2019-20 regular season due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
And the world had changed in a number of ways before the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz tipped off Thursday night in the first game since March 11.
Along with analyzing the game and the performance of the teams, people are tuning in to see how the players are going to peacefully protest while the national anthem booms over the fan-less arena in Orlando, Florida.
While the league rulebook states that “Players, coaches and trainers must stand and line up in a dignified posture along the foul lines during the playing of the American and/or Canadian national anthems,” it’s been hinted that players will not abide by that rule, McClatchy News reported.
And they didn’t.
As a public service announcement about systemic racism aired, the towering figures wearing “Black Lives Matter” shirts and locked arms and knelt along with team staff members and officials.
Donovan Mitchell of the Jazz even wore a bullet proof vest.
While a lot of Twitter users agreed and showed their love for the players, others weren’t thrilled, but by unexpected things.
According to USA Today, the players are not expected to be penalized for the peaceful protest.
Both the Pelicans and the Jazz released statements regarding the protests on Twitter.
“The New Orleans Pelicans stand by the ideals of freedom of speech and the right to peacefully protest,” the Pelicans statement read. “Collectively with the Utah Jazz, our organization joins the NBA in supporting our players and coaches.”
“The Utah Jazz are committed to advancing social justice and stand in support of the players, coaches and staff as they exercise their First Amendment rights, and use their voices, their experiences, and their platforms to peacefully express themselves,” the Jazz statement said.
This story was originally published July 30, 2020 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Kneeling, a bulletproof vest and silence: How the NBA looked in the first game back."