As his players struggle with the best path to take in their quest for racial equality, Boston Celtics manager Brad Stevens has offered unequivocal support for whatever each individual decides.
The Celtics and Raptors met this week ahead of Game 1 of a series of Eastern Conference semi-finals on Thursday to ponder whether potential protests, including a boycott of the game or series, could amplify the social justice message players have been seeking. to spread from within the bubble. .
While players have pointed out that no decision has been made and numerous options remain on the table, Stevens is looking to help his players get over their emotions.
“We’ve had a couple of different meetings,” Stevens said. “We talked about how we feel. We talked about where everyone is in general. And I just said, each individual, we support 110 percent. It’s not easy from the point of view of being down here and feeling like you” you are in this place that you cannot leave
I fully understand everyone’s reaction to what’s happening outside here and the desire to do more, or the desire not to play, or the desire to leave. It totally depends on the individual and we are here to support it.
While his players tried to express both their frustrations and their sense of helplessness in the aftermath of the Jacob Blake shooting, Stevens said he sought to create an environment where players feel safe in expressing their ideas and opinions.
basketball. We support you,'" said Stevens. "I haven't heard a lot of talk from our team about necessarily not playing, but I know that everybody's affected and everybody's emotional. And rightfully so. And we support them. That's it."" data-reactid="28">“We just tell them, ‘We support you. It’s bigger than basketball. We support you,'” said Stevens. “I haven’t heard much about our team not necessarily playing, but I know everyone is affected and everyone is emotional. And rightly so. And we support them. That’s all.”
Stevens later added: “There is no playbook. But I think, once again, first of all, you care about people. And that’s why you support everyone with hearing, listening and any emotion that each person. you try individually, you “are there to be support. And again, we’re lucky to be part of a team, we’re lucky to be in that locker room where we can all talk or in that team room where we can talk and share how we feel. And I think it’s really important that we continue to support each other 100%. “
Celtics All-Star striker Jayson Tatum admitted that some players have been thinking about leaving the bubble due to the feeling of isolation and not being able to take part in protests in their own communities.
basketball court."" data-reactid="33">He stressed that “how many points we score doesn’t matter right now. Being a black man in America is more important than what I’m doing out there on a basketball court.”
Teammate Grant Williams reiterated that “all we can hope and try to do is change the impact”.
Stevens noted that, in his conversations with his two children at home, he feels that gamers are making progress in their quest for change.
“My feeling is that, in having an 11 and 14 year old, I think I can speak like a person who sees directly that our kids’ actions have a huge impact. They make a huge difference. Every time I call. at home, that’s what my kids want to talk about, that’s what their friends want to talk about.
“I would say stay the course. Because we have such great people in this league and great leaders as players and I’m so grateful for that. No question – again, this is maddening because it happens over and over.”
