BUENA VISTA LAKE, Fla. – As he knelt and closed his arms during the national anthem Thursday evening, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James didn’t just protest against systemic racism. He also wanted to send a message to former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
“I hope we made Kaep proud. I hope we will continue to make Kaep proud every single day. I hope to make him proud of how I live my life, not only on the basketball court, but on the field, “said James after the Lakers’ 103-101 victory over the Clippers on Thursday.” I’ve always been one to talk about things that I think are unfair If I am educated on things, I always try so. So Kaep was someone who got up when the times were not at ease and people did not understand or refused to listen to what he was saying. “
Four years ago, Kaepernick knelt for the first time during the national anthem to protest racial inequality and police brutality. But he received an immediate reaction amid allegations that he disrespected the flag and the military by carrying out a peaceful protest during the national anthem.
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“It had absolutely nothing to do with the flag, it had absolutely nothing to do with the soldiers, men and women who kept our land free,” said James. “He explained that and the ears were uncomfortable. People never listened. They refused to listen and I did it.”
James may have listened, but didn’t immediately follow Kaepernick’s actions. When some NFL players followed Kaepernick’s gesture in 2017, James resisted. The reason? James told reporters, “my voice and what I do in my community is more powerful than getting on my knees.”
The other unspoken reality. In 1981 the NBA established a rule that “players, coaches and coaches must stand and stand in a dignified position along the lines of the foul” during the national anthem. At the time, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said he expected those in the league to follow that rule. Those of the NBA obeyed in part because they appreciated the league by letting them talk about these issues anyway.
“I just don’t think at the time that I wasn’t fully educated,” said James. “Strengthen your mind, read, listen, educate as much as possible on any situation, on whatever is going on. I’ve always been what I am. And until I’m fully educated and fully aware of what’s going on, then call for action. I feel at that moment that I wasn’t fully educated about the purpose, what the purpose is at hand. And honestly, Kaep taught me a lot about it. “
Images and sounds inside the bubble
With the league’s social justice efforts at the center of the stage during the reboot, the NBA delivered touching moments Thursday night. Before each game, the league played a PSA against the systemic racist. So players, coaches, staff and referees blocked their arms and knelt during the national anthem.
The pelican rookie phenomenon Zion Williamson was in initial formation after returning to the bubble and completing a four-day quarantine. He did not appear to have lost a step during the arrest, but was still limited to 15 minutes on the floor during a New Orleans loss. The cameras continued to find Williamson on the bench during the crisis period, leaving many observers confused.
The arenas used on the Disney World campus are open to players to watch other teams play. Several players took the opportunity to watch the Lakers-Clippers game from the field side. Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum and Carmelo Anthony of the Trail Blazers and DeMar DeRozan of the Spurs were among those identified along a lateral line.
With as many as seven games a day in the next two weeks, we hope to see more players as fans – and maybe even a bit of a bad mood.
Thursday matches
Jazz 106, Pelicans 104: Rudy Gobert sank a couple of free throws with 6.9 seconds remaining to give Utah the victory in the first game of the Orlando restart.
Lakers 103, Clippers 101: LeBron James scored a rebound with 12 seconds remaining after rebounding his defeat to seal a Lakers victory moments after Paul George drew for the Clippers with a whopping 3.
Friday program
All Eastern times. All games available on League Pass.
- Magic against goals, 2:30
- Grizzlies Vs. Trail Blazers, 4 (NBATV)
- Alone against magicians, 4
- Celtics vs. Bucks, 6:30 am (ESPN)
- Kings Vs. Spurs, 8
- Rockets vs. Mavericks, 9 (ESPN)
Status of the playoff game
With the season taking off seriously on Friday, the post-season picture will begin to focus. After winning on Thursday, the Lakers increased their lead by 6 games and a half over the Clippers at the top of the Western Conference and moved closer to winning the first seed.
After the first places, the race in every conference is tight. Only five games currently separate 2-7 seeds in the West, with six teams below the one vying for the playoff end point. In the East, seeds 2-6 are in flux, with three teams playing for the last two seeds.
