While several Boston Celtics may be less than enthusiastic about the lack of input they have over the pro- racial justice slogans they will be able to wear in the restarted regular season at the Disney NBA campus, at least a few Celtics have already committed to wearing specific slogans in the games.
National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) vice president and Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown and veteran point guard Marcus Smart have both voiced their criticism of the input process, but haven’t gone so far as to say they won’t be wearing a jersey with a slogan like some players have.
In fact, Smart plans to wear “Freedom” for the slogan on his jersey (no word yet either way on Brown), “Education Reform” will be worn by veteran forward Gordon Hayward, and “Love Us” will be worn by forward Semi Ojeleye.
Jersey slogan concerns opens wider debate on limit of symbolic support https://t.co/lhYrOTePe1
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) July 14, 2020
The NBA and NBPA settled on a list of slogans which would be available to players to choose from, and being excluded has wrankled a few of them.
But none of them seem to think the exercise is a bad idea (at least publicly), with players abstaining like LeBron James remaining vocally supportive of the symbolic gesture.
It is part of the NBA’s commitment to racial justice agreed to as a condition of the Disney restart, which is to also include additional symbolic acts like painting “Black Lives Matter” on the court.
It will also include more structurally-oriented initiatives to support Black-owned business and to provide a foundation to help with educational and other opportunities within the Black community, according the join NBA/NBPA press release announcing the restart agreement.
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