In November 2020, the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, which was established to “lead the NBA family’s collective efforts to advance equality and social justice.”
The coalition has mostly stayed off of the radar on social media, until Wednesday when they published a video to social media outlining their goals.
“Our goal is really simple. We want to take moments of protest, moments of people power, like we saw last year and turn them into public policy.” Executive Director of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition James Cadogan said. “We want to change laws.”
“To be in this moment and have a coalition that is dedicated to doing this work on behalf of the NBA community, that’s the next step and the next evolution in the unbroken chain of advocacy undertaken by players,” Cadogan continued.
Cadogan was last heard from in November when he put out a statement following the verdict in the Kyle Rittenhouse trial.
“Our thoughts are with the families of those whose lives were taken in this tragedy,” Cadogen said in a statement. “The right to peacefully protest is a bedrock of our democracy and the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition remains committed to preserving that right for all. Any forms of vigilantism in our society are unacceptable.”
Multiple NBA players appeared in the video, including Karl-Anthony Towns, Jrue Holiday, Carmelo Anthony, and Donovan Mitchell.
“This coalition of different people has been inspiring,” Holiday said. “It is our responsibility to take what we’ve learned from history. Push forward and make a better life.”
The NBA was at the front of the social justice movement following the death of George Floyd in May 2020. In the NBA bubble in Orlando, the NBA allowed players to put social justice messages on the back of their jerseys, while Black Lives Matter messaging was seen on the courts.
“To be in this situation today is just an ongoing cycle,” Lakers forward Carmelo Anthony said. “The time is now that we have to break that cycle. Being able to use this platform to have conversations, keep topics going, educate each other. That’s what I’m here for.”
“It starts with our young generation,” Mitchell of the Utah Jazz said. “We’re the future continuing to go out there and saying this isn’t right, standing up for what they believe in. It’s our job to keep our foot on the gas because the only way it’s going to happen is if we continue to talk about it.”
We here.
We are players, coaches, team governors, and executives working to advance social justice policy reform. pic.twitter.com/tQZfV0ag8m
— National Basketball Social Justice Coalition (@NBACoalition) December 1, 2021
Enes Kanter Freedom of the Boston Celtics has been one to stand up for what he believes in over the past month, criticizing China for its record on human rights abuses, as well as those that profit of of Chinese labor.
“I feel like it’s definitely time for athletes to stand up for the things they believe in … not just in America … but all over the world,” Freedom said on Tuesday.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to [email protected].