Players protest racial injustice as NBA returns to action
VIDEO SHOWS: COMMENTS FROM LEBRON JAMES / STILL PICTURES OF TEAM KNEELING
SHOWS: LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA, USA (JULY 30, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - MANDATORY CREDIT: ASHLEY LANDIS/POOL PHOTO VIA USA TODAY SPORTS)
1. NBA PLAYERS KNEELING BEHIND BLACK LIVES MATTER SIGN
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA, USA (JULY 30, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - MANDATORY CREDIT: MIKE EHRMANN/POOL PHOTO VIA USA TODAY SPORTS)
2. LEBRON JAMES POINTS TO THE SKY AS PLAYERS KNEEL
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA, USA (JULY 30, 2020) (NBA - MUST COURTESY NBA ENTERTAINMENT. NO RESALE. NO ARCHIVE)
3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEBRON JAMES SAYING:
"That commitment to the Black community, having my fist up in the air, I understand how unified the Black community, not only in my hometown but all over the world are unified. I want us to become and I want us to be heard.
"Just giving thanks to the man above for giving me an opportunity to have this platform because nothing is possible without the grace of God, we all know that, for giving us a perfect life and like I said using this platform, using who I am.
"I try to use it for the greater good and I hope I make people proud, and I hope I make my kids proud and not only my household but also in my school and things of that nature in my community."
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA, USA (JULY 30, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - MANDATORY CREDIT: MIKE EHRMANN/POOL PHOTO VIA USA TODAY SPORTS)
4. JAMES AND OTHER PLAYERS KNEELING
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA, USA (JULY 30, 2020) (NBA - MUST COURTESY NBA ENTERTAINMENT. NO RESALE. NO ARCHIVE)
5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LEBRON JAMES SAYING:
"I hope we make Kap (Colin Kappernick) proud, continue to make Kap proud, every single day I hope I make him proud on how I live my life, not only on the basketball field but off the field. I want to speak out about things that I feel are unjust. If I'm educated on things I always go about it that way.
"Kap was someone who stood up when times weren't comfortable, when people didn't understand, when people refused to listen to what he was saying.
"You go back on any of his post-game interviews when he was talking about why he was kneeling, it had absolutely nothing to do about the flag, it had absolutely nothing to do about the soldiers, the men and women that keep our land free. He explained that and people never listened, they refused to listen, I did, and a lot of my people in the Black community did listen. We just thank him for sacrificing everything that he did to put us in a position today, even years later, to have that moment like we had tonight."
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA, USA (JULY 30, 2020) (REUTERS PICTURES - MANDATORY CREDIT: MIKE EHRMANN/POOL PHOTO VIA USA TODAY SPORTS)
6. JAMES IN BLACK LIVES MATTER T-SHIRT
STORY: NBA teams bowed their heads and knelt during the playing of the U.S. national anthem while wearing Black Lives Matter T-shirts on Thursday (July 30) as the league returned for the first time since the coronavirus halted play in March with two thrilling games.
Coaches and game officials joined players from the Utah Jazz, New Orleans Pelicans and Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers in taking a knee to protest against racial injustice and police brutality in the first games in 140 days.
Black Lives Matter was also written on the courts at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the Walt Disney World Resort near Orlando, where the NBA plans to finish its season with 22 teams inside a bio-secure bubble.
"That commitment to the Black community, having my fist up in the air, I understand how unified the Black community, not only in my hometown but all over the world are unified. I want us to become and I want us to be heard," the Lakers LeBron James said after hitting the game-winning shot in his team's 103-101 win over the Clippers.
James also paid tribute to Colin Kappernick, the ex-San Francisco 49ers quarterback who first took a knee as a protest during the national anthem.
"I hope we make Kap proud, continue to make Kap proud, every single day I hope I make him proud on how I live my life, not only on the basketball field but off the field. I want to speak out about things that I feel are unjust. If I'm educated on things I always go about it that way.
"Kap was someone who stood up when times weren't comfortable, when people didn't understand, when people refused to listen to what he was saying."
Some players had messages like "Equality," "Education Reform" and "Say Their Names" on the backs of their jerseys in place of their names.
Athletes from around the world have united behind anti-racism protests sparked by the death of George Floyd, a Black man in police custody in Minneapolis in May.
The games are being played without fans, but "virtual fans" appeared on LED screens wrapped around the court and a simulation of a crowd's cheers and jeers could be heard.
(Production: Andy Ragg)
