Promoting social justice has been a major issue in the NBA, especially since protests began across the United States following the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor.
Now, the league is giving players a new way to promote their chosen message.
The NBA and National Basketball Players Association plan to allow players to replace their last name on their jersey with a statement about social justice, sources tell The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
The NBA and NBPA are planning to allow players to replace the last name on their jerseys with statement on social justice, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2020
It’s unclear if messages will be limited in length or scope, or if this policy will continue beyond the 2019-2020 season.
Either way, this certainly is a creative way for the league to give players a way to promote their social justice platform while remaining in the NBA’s bubble environment at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.