Former Boston Celtics guards Kyrie Irving and Avery Bradley have emerged as driving forces behind a faction of NBA players seeking a greater voice in how the league conducts its business, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews.
Having organized multiple conference calls seeking clarity on issues related to civil unrest stemming from the killing of George Floyd and the looming season restart at a Disney property in Lake Buena Vista, Florida in July, the pair believe they have a duty to address a number of concerns some players may not be open to voicing publicly.
Bradley and Irving released a statement to ESPN about these concerns, which reads:
“We are a group of men and women from different teams and industries that are normally painted as opponents, but have put our egos and differences aside to make sure we stand united and demand honesty during this uncertain time.
Report: some players uneasy with NBA return due to protests, pandemic https://t.co/7vFSPqtX5f via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 12, 2020
Native indigenous African Caribbean men and women entertaining the world, we will continue to use our voices and platforms for positive change and truth.
We are truly at an inflection point in history where as a collective community, we can band together — UNIFY — and move as one. We need all our people with us and we will stand together in solidarity.
As an oppressed community we are going on 500-plus years of being systemically targeted, used for our IP [intellectual property] /Talent, and also still being killed by the very people that are supposed to ‘protect and serve’ us.
WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH!
Celtics legend Bill Russell continues criticism of Trump on Twitter https://t.co/XKOPG21bqi via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 14, 2020
We are combating the issues that matter most: We will not accept the racial injustices that continue to be ignored in our communities. We will not be kept in the dark when it comes to our health and well-being. And we will not ignore the financial motivations/expectations that have prevented us historically from making sound decisions.
This is not about individual players, athletes or entertainers. This is about our group of strong men and women uniting for change. We have our respective fields, however, we will not just shut up and play to distract us from what this whole system has been about: Use and Abuse.
We are all fathers, daughters, leaders and so much more. So what is our BIG picture? We are in this for UNITY and CHANGE!”
Boston's Jayson Tatum, other young stars seek increased insurance https://t.co/Ife8U014MX via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) June 13, 2020
The statement specifically refers to concerns about injury and risk of infection by the virus behind the pandemic that forced the hiatus to begin with.
It also touches on concerns about limits on what players might be able to do given the fraught atmosphere surrounding direct action in response to the killing of Floyd now headed into its third week.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) — of whom Irving is a vice president — continue their negotiations on these and many other related issues concerning the July season resumption.
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