Report: Michael Jordan worked with Russell Westbrook to save season

Jordan spoke with Westbrook and Oklahoma City’s Chris Paul to better understand the concerns of NBA players who were reluctant to play.

Basketball Hall of Famer and current Charlotte owner Michael Jordan reportedly worked with Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook to better understand the concerns of players who boycotted Wednesday’s games and were initially open to having the season canceled.

By Thursday, players had agreed to resume the 2020 NBA playoffs, and it appears that Jordan played a significant role.

As the NBA’s only Black majority owner and still revered from his playing days, Jordan was in a unique position to serve as an effective liaison between owners and players. ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan explains:

Jordan reached out to National Basketball Players Association president Chris Paul, league sources told ESPN, in advance of the owners meeting to get a better understanding of what the players hoped to achieve going forward and to offer assistance as they make their case to the NBA’s board of governors. Jordan also spoke with Houston Rockets star Russell Westbrook about issues of social justice that initially left some stars advocating for the cancellation of the season.

A nine-time All-Star, Westbrook and Jordan have long been close. In fact, the 2017 MVP has an endorsement contract with the Jordan Brand.

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Per MacMullan, Jordan urged other owners to allow players to express their frustrations and concerns in a meeting between the sides before offering any of their own solutions. Media reports on Wednesday indicated that Lakers superstar LeBron James was of the belief that NBA owners hadn’t done enough to support the players on these issues.

“Right now, listening is better than talking,” Jordan told the owners, according to MacMullan. Citing sources, she said owners were unanimous in their support of the players and spent much of Thursday’s meeting discussing ways in which they could help amplify the players’ voices.

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The Rockets, for instance, announced a plan Thursday to use their home arena of Toyota Center as an election voting hub. Houston owner Tilman Fertitta also spoke out against U.S. President Donald Trump, who had made comments that were critical of the NBA’s politics.

For his part, Westbrook has been personally active in the “Black Lives Matter” movement. When combined with a long and distinguished career, that gives him a leadership platform with players on this issue.

The 2020 NBA playoffs are expected to resume for the Rockets on Friday or Saturday with Game 5 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. A revised schedule will be released later Thursday.

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