On Saturday, the Oklahoma City Thunder made their long-awaited return to action when they squared off against the Utah Jazz from Orlando.
The teams finally played the contest that was originally scheduled for March 11 when, moments before tip-off, Jazz center Rudy Gobert was learned to have tested presumptive positive for COVID-19.
More than 100 days passed from the time of Gobert’s positive result and the league’s resuming its season on July 30, and quite a bit has happened in the United States. Perhaps most notable was the May 25th killing of George Floyd. Floyd, whose death was caught on video, died after former police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on his neck for nearly nine minutes.
Across the country, citizens took to the streets in protest, and NBA players were among them. The league, which has historically supported positive expressions by its players, agreed with the NBA Players Association to take an active role in protesting against police brutality and advocating for the preservation of Black lives.
To that end, the NBA painted “BLACK LIVES MATTER” on their Orlando courts and agreed to allow players to individually decide to replace the last names appearing on their jerseys with social and political phrases.
All the while, Colin Kaepernick and his kneeling protests have received renewed attention. Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49er, is seen by many as an individual who was willing to sacrifice his career to take a stand. Or, in this case, a knee.
Beginning with the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz on Thursday, NBA personnel followed suit. Prior to tip-off in their contests, NBA players on both sides, game officials and team personnel unified and kneeled during the national anthem.
Many viewed the expression as courageous, but Rep. Sean Roberts (R-Hominy) of Oklahoma did not.
On Friday, Mr. Roberts warned Thunder players and attempted to dissuade the franchise’s personnel from protesting, even threatening to take action against the club.
Mr. Robert’s complete statement, which is reproduced below, calls the act of kneeling during the national anthem an “anti-patriotic act” and essentially threatened to attempt to prematurely end the franchise’s tax breaks.
There’s no telling whether Mr. Roberts has the authority to make good on the threat, but it’s obvious that he is among those who are offended by the act of kneeling during the national anthem.
“By kneeling during the playing of the national anthem, the NBA and its players are showing disrespect to the American flag and all it stands for. This anti-patriotic act makes clear the NBA’s support of the Black Lives Matter group and its goal of defunding our nation’s police, its ties to Marxism and its efforts to destroy nuclear families.
If the Oklahoma City Thunder leadership and players follow the current trend of the NBA by kneeling during the national anthem prior to Saturday’s game, perhaps we need to reexamine the significant tax benefits the State of Oklahoma granted the Oklahoma City Thunder organization when they came to Oklahoma. Through the Quality Jobs Act, the Thunder is still under contract to receive these tax breaks from our state until 2024.
Perhaps these funds would be better served in support of our police departments rather than giving tax breaks to an organization that supports defunding police and the dissolution of the American nuclear family.”
Despite the threat, prior to tip-off against the Jazz on Saturday, the Thunder and Jazz followed the lead of the teams that played before them and, donning “BLACK LIVES MATTER” shirts, kneeled during the anthem.
It’s probably safe to say that Mr. Roberts won’t be pleased.
(H/T: Oklahoma’s News 4)