Michael Jordan, the only Black owner of an NBA team and a former player, is acting as a liaison between his peers in league front offices and the players union.
Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, reached out to Oklahoma City Thunder point guard and National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul before the owners met Thursday morning, according to ESPN.
He was looking to learn from Paul what the players hoped to achieve and how he could help as he met with the NBA Board of Governors.
Jordan also spoke to Russell Westbrook, Houston Rockets and former Oklahoma City guard, about societal concerns of the athletes.
NBA owners met virtually on Thursday morning, according to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan.
MacMullan’s sources told her that Jordan said “listening is better than talking” and that owners were unanimous in support of players.
Players on the Milwaukee Bucks were the first to go on strike Wednesday in response to the police shooting of Jacob Blake and the response of the police and government to not arrest the officer who shot him.
Opponents on the opposing team, the Orlando Magic, followed suit. Players on the other four teams scheduled to play Wednesday also went on strike, prompting the NBA to postpone those games and the games Thursday.
Players and the league hope to resume the playoffs Friday, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
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