Players look at the resumption of the season from different perspectives
Over the past week, a lot of discussions have taken place regarding the NBA’s plan to resume the 2019–20 season at Disney World in Orlando. Players have voiced their concerns to play with this pandemic still going on but there are also some who take a close look to all the protests that have been conducted and still do and they think that the resumption of the season would ‘’work’’ as a distraction and that it would cover the noise of the demonstrations and the people who yell and seek social justice.
Nets superstar and vice president of the NBA Players Association Kyrie Irving, in a conference call that players from NBA and WNBA participated while talking about the wave of protests he aired his reluctance to play, as he said: he’s “willing to give up everything I have (for social reform).”
“I don’t support going into Orlando,” Irving said. “I’m not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. … Something smells a little fishy. Whether we want to admit it or not, we are targeted as black men every day we wake up.”
“There’s only 20 guys actually getting paid, and I’m part of that,” he continued. “Let’s not pretend there’s not a tiered system purposely to divide all of us.”
And finally, “I’m willing to give up everything I have (for social reform).”
Another player Lakers center Dwight Howard made a statement, which was released by CNN, explicating the reasons why he approaches this matter the same way Irving does.
“I agree with Kyrie (Irving). Basketball, or entertainment period, isn’t needed at this moment, and will only be a distraction. Sure it might not distract us the players, but we have resources at hand majority of our community don’t have. And the smallest distraction for them, can start a trickle down effect that may never stop. Especially with the way the climate is now. I would love nothing more than to win my very first NBA Championship. But the unity of My People would be an even bigger Championship, that’s just to (sic) beautiful to pass up. What better time than now for us to be focusing on our families. This is a rare opportunity that, I believe, we as a community should be taking full advantage of. When have we ever had this amount of time to sit and be with our families. This is where our Unity starts. At home! With Family!! European Colonization stripped us of our rich history, and we have yet to sit down and figure us out. The less distractions, the more we can put into action into rediscovering ourselves. Nations come out of families. Black/African American is not a Nation or Nationality. It’s time Our Families became their own Nations. No Basketball till we get things resolved.”
However, there is a player who looks at it from a different perspective. Rockets guard Austin Rivers, on his post on Instagram, he revealed why he disagrees with Irving:
“Us coming back would put money in all of our (NBA players’) pockets. With this money you could help out even more people and continue to give more importantly your time and energy towards the BLM movement. Which I’m 100% on board with. Because change needs to happen and injustice has been going on too long.
But also….. Not to mention there are plenty of NBA players I know who need them paychecks…. 99% of the NBA hasn’t made the money a guy like Kyrie has. Not to mention NBA basketball is predominantly African American… and a lot of our audience is too. Us providing entertainment and hope for kids is important. Also keeping SOME kids indoors and watching basketball games on tv instead of maybe going out and getting into trouble (due to the unfair and unequal environments a lot of African American kids are placed in) is important too.
NOT saying basketball is a cure for that but basketball can maybe provide a distraction. On another note….. Not to mention the ramifications of not playing with the TV money etc. CBA etc…. would really put NBA basketball behind. Possibly even cancelling next year.
I love Kyrie’s passion towards helping this movement, It’s admirable and inspiring. I’m with it … but not at the cost of the whole NBA and players’ careers. We can do both. We can play and we can help change the way black lives are lived. I think we have [to]! But canceling and boycotting [a] return doesn’t do that in my opinion. Guys want to play and provide and help change!!!!”
As it becomes comprehensible some players want to come back to playing basketball and receiving their paychecks while others looking at the resumption of the NBA as a distraction that will cover up the noise from the demonstrations. However, let’s mention that there are a lot of players that could share their opinions towards this matter, but it seems like they don’t want to intervene in this huge discussion, while others aren’t afraid to speak their mind.