Jimmy Butler has decided not to put a special name or phrase on the back of the shirt when the NBA resumes its 2019-2020 season, and it won’t be the only player to do so either.
“I decided not to (put a phrase on his shirt),” said Miami Heat star, via ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “Having said that, I hope my surname doesn’t go there too.”
Every active Heat player (except Butler) has decided to show some sort of message about their shirts when the game officially resumes, according to Miami’s official Twitter account. Most players opted for “Black Lives Matter”, while others opted for phrases like “Equality”, “I Can’t Breathe”, “Love Us” and “Si Se Puede”, among others. But some, like the Boston Celtics swingman, Jaylen Brown, have yet to decide what to wear their shirt, if for no other reason.
In cases like Butler’s, however, the goal is to appear “no different from anyone else of color”.
“Just because I love and respect all the messages the league has chosen, but for me, I felt like I hadn’t received any unnamed messages, going back to, like, who I was,” Butler said. “And if you weren’t what I was today, I am no different from anyone else in color and I want this to be my message, in the sense that just because I’m an NBA player, everyone has the same right, no matter what, and that’s what I feel for my black people. “
The NBA will resume play next Thursday.
Miniature photo via Brad Penner / USA TODAY Sports images
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