Doc Rivers helped save NBA season after taking Chris Paul’s invitation

Although he might not get credit for it, Clippers head coach Doc Rivers may have helped to save the NBA season.

After a historic strike on Wednesday, according to media reports, the NBA’s players weren’t necessarily on one accord. In protest against the police shooting involving 29-year-old Jacob Blake, some of the league’s players — including LeBron James — advocated walking out on the remainder of the season.

Such a decision would have had monumental implications on the NBA Players Associations’ labor relations with the league’s owners. Per the collective bargaining agreement, the owners would have been within their right to terminate the current CBA and potentially lock the players out.

On Wednesday night, it all hung in the balance and, when it did, Paul called upon his former head coach Doc Rivers to address the league’s players. Although the effect Rivers’ words had on the contingent of players is difficult to ascertain for certain, on Thursday, NBA fans exhaled when it was reported that the union agreed to resume the 2020 Playoffs.

Play is expected to commence on Saturday.

Rivers — who is one of the league’s more passionate and respect coaches — became a champion of the players’ cause when he delivered a passionate address on Monday evening. Rivers’ sound-byte, in which he spoke of his personal experiences and delivered a moving message, in part stated that America “does not love [Black people] back.” He received mainstream media attention.

The coach, who didn’t plan on speaking at the meeting, was asked to say his piece to the players. He did, and according to reports, he advocated that the players return to the floor.

The day prior, per the Washington Post’s Ben Golliver, Rivers was asked what his advice would be to players who were considering a strike.

“My message is go after your dreams,” Rivers said. “You don’t allow anything to take you away from your dreams. During the Donald Sterling thing, Matt Barnes, Chris Paul, DeAndre Jordan, Blake Griffin and JJ Redick all pulled together. When we were little kids, in the backyard by ourselves and we had these dreams about winning a championship, Donald Sterling was not in our dreams and neither were these cops.”

Rivers’ message to the players on Wednesday, obviously, were consistent with that.

As of Thursday, the only report available as to the specific contents of Rivers’ address was from The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey, who reported that Rivers told the players that their power was their talent and that they should play.

Coincidence or not, the next day, they agreed to do so.