On March 11, 2020 Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID and NBA suspended the season. The following day my alma mater St. John’s was leading #7 Creighton at the half when they went into the locker room. They never came out. On that day, all American sports shut down. It shocked the country; It shocked the world. Life as we know it really has never been the same. On May 25, 2020 George Floyd was pinned face down by police for 8 Minutes and 46 seconds resulting in his death in Minneapolis, Minnesota and widespread protests ensued. Countless black people have been murdered by police, but this time it felt different. This time it felt like there was real momentum for change and progress. Fast Forward to July 31. The NBA returned, in a “bubble” in Disney World to limit exposure to COVID. It was great to have sports back. Part of our lives became quasi-normal again. Then on August 23 Jacob Blake was shot in the back seven times by police officers while leaning into his car in Kenosha, Wisconsin as three of his children sat in back. He is currently paralyzed from the waist down. An overwhelming reminder that any momentum we had for change would be a Marathon, rather than a sprint (we still see you Nipsey). On August 27, the Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their playoff game against the Orlando Magic and all NBA games were suspended. Other sports followed suit, again the world is in shock. Later on, we find that in an informal poll the LA Lakers and Clippers both voted to discontinue the season. I think that would be a mistake….
Let me preface this; I will support the players in any decision they choose to protest injustice. There is more than one way to fight inequality* and we should never discourage anyone from following the method they choose. However, I believe this is a unique opportunity. The bubble is the only chance for the NBA season to continue so if you leave the bubble, that's it, the season is over. The NBA being active has given the players, and the league for that matter, a voice that didn’t really exist before. Prior to entering the bubble numerous players were out joining, and in some instances, leading protests. Truth of the matter is, I didn’t really know this until the league returned and the NBA helped deliver that information. I’m sure I am not the only one who was ignorant to the players’ efforts. Slogans of equality were on the back of the jerseys, the court reads Black Lives Matter. We are seeing these messages every single night. The bubble is the biggest megaphone the players will ever have. If they leave now, they are just another protester on the street. I’m not saying that’s not a noble or worthy cause, but the opportunity to do more is right there in Orlando. In the bubble, they have leverage. Americans love their sports and the NBA has given us a taste of that normalcy we had been craving and we're clamoring to watch the playoffs. This is the perfect opportunity to invoke real change. No march will be as widely seen as where the NBA is right now. Get on Zoom calls with team owners, civil rights and social justice advocates. Be the experts’ microphone and work WITH them to come up with a list of demands and give a realistic timetable. Let the bubble be the pulpit. Use the team owners’ power and political influence to enact those petitions. If the requests are not being taken seriously, players can always boycott again because they wouldn’t have given up the leverage they have right now. The deeper we get into the playoffs, the stronger that leverage becomes. If the game schedule interferes with meetings, then work with the NBA to adjust the schedule. If the NBA relents, THEN leave. If players leave now it sends a very powerful message, but then what? Did anything really change? If players leave now, they leave without having demanded any specific changes. Asking for “change” only goes so far, we need substance. Hearts and minds of those who don’t “get it” will be a much longer struggle, but systematic legislative change can happen immediately. If efforts come up empty, the option for players to leave is still there in a month and might even have a greater impact than if they left now. They would have at least attempted to use the influence they have and at the very least would have exposed to the world the ugly truth that outside of changing the name of syrup and rice, the powers that be don’t actually aspire for progress. Players have the power right here and right now…so use it.
*A2D’s Sam Ballah inspired that line.
Edit: Source tells ESPN's Adrian Wojnrowski that the players have decided to resume the playoffs
Image from SBNation by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
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