Kareem Abdul-Jabbar encourages athletes to continue speaking up on social issues (video)

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wants athletes to speak up.

In addition to being one of the greatest NBA players to ever step onto a basketball court, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar knew very early on his career that he can, and should, use his platform as a superstar athlete to speak his mind about the daily goings-on in society.

Given the recent turn of events in America, many of which contain themes and scenarios interwoven directly into the fabric of many NBA players’ personal experiences, Kareem wants as many athletes as possible to do their part and make some noise.

In a clip for TNT, the always eloquent Abdul-Jabbar said that now is the perfect chance for NBA and sports stars everywhere to take on dual roles as athletes and activists.

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar wants NBA stars to take action.

Several players have taken the former Lakers and Bucks star’s message to heart over the last few days, as most of the public statements that have been made in the Disney bubble relate to the George Floyd and Breonna Taylor murders. The most noteworthy belongs to Philadelphia 76ers forward Tobias Harris, who used his media availability to suggest that the police officers who shot Taylor should be arrested and charged with murder. Several other players have done something similar in their availability. 

The league itself has painted “Black Lives Matter” on the courts that will be used in Orlando. While a completely symbolic gesture, it is a sign that the NBA is committed to enacting change, either through action or financial support.

“Sticking to sports” has always been a ridiculously false premise, and it’s nearly impossible to do so in the current social climate. Kareem knows a thing or two about activism, and he’s hoping the sports stars of today have taken notice.