“Those are those n-words that you are telling me about.”
At age 16, the Miami Heat’s Jimmy Butler was shocked after an encounter with a 6-year-old white kid who said these very words to his dad. 14 years later, before the National Basketball Association season’s resumption and after the gruesome murder of George Floyd this June, he was shocked yet again, this time at how nothing much seemed to have improved. “This is the world we live in,” he reflected, “now is the time to change” (Schuster). Many an athlete grew up in at-risk communities with stories of discrimination, changing their lives for the better through sports. Consequently, basketball is no stranger to civil reform; for years it has been a catalyst for meaningful change through which racism, mental health, and other social issues have been addressed. Innumerable athletes have used their voice to express concern on prevalent issues that they feel needed to be discussed. Yet, questions have recently arisen about whether resuming the NBA season after its hiatus for the past few months is appropriate considering the civil unrest in the US. Players like Brooklyn’s Kyrie Irving, who chose to sit out the rest of the season, are among those vocalizing their opinions. But contrary to these beliefs, the NBA has a unique ability to spark significant societal change in today’s climate.
Out of sight, out of mind. That’s what a majority of players who choose not to utilize the NBA’s existing platform will be, for the publicity resulting from constant exposure through cameras effectively sustains their fan base. Thus, athletes who advocate for justice could utilize the sheer size of the NBA’s community, in-game or post-game, with a specific purpose to induce targeted change. As of September 2020, the NBA’s following on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram totaled around 100 million people (Gough). From this, there’s no question then that through the live streams of games and social media, the association has the means to constantly advocate for reform on an international scale. On top of this, it is crucial that players capitalize on the size of this platform and raise awareness of social issues effectively; Lakers star LeBron James, for example, through the creation of his iPromise school aimed at supporting at-risk kids, educated his followers on the perils that impoverished black communities face and supported low-income neighborhoods in Akron, Ohio (Green). In taking concrete steps towards reform, the impact of athletes’ actions can be maximized, keeping pervasive social issues at the forefront of millions of minds who may, one day, make a difference on their own.
Basketball also has the unique opportunity to unite, to transcend superficial division, and let our mutual love for the sport bring fans together. In the NBA, viewers have the ability to pick sides, not in a civil war or political debate, but in an undemanding basketball game free of hate. There, along with others who share a die-hard support for their team, hometown, and favorite player, fans are part of a multicultural community backing their team and a larger community that is united in its appreciation of the game itself. Albeit, tensions might run high between sports fans, but this arises from competitiveness, not hatred for each other. Nav Bhatia, a Sikh Toronto Raptors superfan who has attended every home game in the franchise’s history, has taken this ideology to heart and created a foundation alongside the NBA for other superfans like himself. Its mission is simple: “unite people of all ages and backgrounds through… basketball so they don’t have to face the discrimination Nav faced” (Bhatia). In creating this foundation, Nav recognized the power that sport has in uniting individuals across ethnicities in a shared passion. Moreover, the mere presence of this establishment sends the message that the NBA and its fans stand firmly against discrimination of any kind.
But that’s not to say that there were no arguments against the season’s resumption. In fact, some argue that the NBA is sending the wrong message by gathering to play basketball in such turbulent times. The recent protesting, rioting, and violence coupled with racism in the US is shocking, and the progress that the NBA claims to seek could only be achieved with its full attention and resources. Yet, the NBA has proven that it can advocate even through its existing platform in meaningful ways. On August 27th, for instance, the Milwaukee Bucks and soon afterward the entire NBA boycotted playoff games with a potential viewership of 15 million to draw attention to the gruesome shooting of Jacob Blake. The 29-year old African American was shot 7 times in the back by police officers in Wisconsin, the home state of the Bucks. Furthermore, the player-run National Basketball Players Association, led by Thunder star Chris Paul, was relentless in implementing a plan to promote civic engagement and awareness in advocating for criminal justice reform. Team governors also began working to “convert all arenas into location[s] for [the] 2020 general election” in an effort to inspire local communities to vote purposefully (Shekhar). This statement and response was powerful, not only to the millions of viewers who found themselves in the midst of a social justice endeavor but also to the Jacob Blakes out there who feel powerless. The association has already proved its capability to induce change and build unity in its restart, silencing those who doubt the potential of the NBA’s platform.
While Jimmy Butler reflected on his encounter with racism, his teammates and coaches knew that reform could be a consequence of basketball’s ability to vocalize change. As the Heat’s Coach Spoelstra put it, “we want to see change… the time to be silent or [sweep] these topics under the rug, those are long gone” (Schuster). NBA players stand to lose a lot by alienating a portion of their fan base but continue to advocate on hot-topic issues. In the past, the monocultural owners of basketball teams, greed for higher TV ratings, and conservative calls against change hindered the implementation of a progressive agenda for the association. But the NBA as an establishment and community now has different values. They choose to not tolerate discrimination of any kind. They choose to stand up against injustice of all forms. They choose to use their influence as an internationally renowned organization with power and with purpose. In today’s climate particularly, where police brutality, the continuous discrimination against African Americans, and even the upcoming US presidential election are important topics to be discussed, the NBA is using its collective voice when it counts the most. As an agent of change, the NBA has stood up for the Breonna Taylors, George Floyds, and Jacob Blakes globally time and time again, and for that, we can only be grateful.
Works Cited:
Bhatia, Nav et al. “The Nav Bhatia Superfan Foundation.” Nav Bhatia Superfan, 2020, https://navbhatiasuperfan.com/.
Green, Erica L. “LeBron James Opened a School That Was Considered an Experiment. It’s Showing Promise.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 12 Apr. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2019/04/12/education/lebron-james-school-ohio.html.
Gough, Christina. “Number of Facebook fans/twitter followers of the NBA from 2012 to 2020(in millions).” Statista, Sep 8 2020, https://www.statista.com/statistics/322941/facebook-fans-twitter-followers-of-nba/
Schuster, Blake. “Jimmy Butler, More Heat Players Discuss Racism In Online Town Hall Meeting.” Bleacher Report, 2020, https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2896929-jimmy-butler-more-heat-players-discuss-racism-in-online-town-hall-meeting.
Shekhar, Amulya, and Samir Mehdi. “NBA Polling Places : NBA To Turn Arenas Into Voting Centers Among Other Social Justice Plans | The Sportsrush.” The Sportsrush, 2020, https://thesportsrush.com/nba-news-nba-polling-places-nba-to-turn-arenas-into-voting-centers-among-other-social-justice-plans/.
