The Whiteboard: Prepare for NBA’s re-Opening Day to be about much more than basketball

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Sports fans who were miffed by MLB players kneeling before the national anthem should probably mentally prepare themselves for Thursday evening. If that “political” gesture for Black Lives Matter turned viewers off, the NBA is about to remind people why “sports as an escape” is no longer an acceptable coping mechanism.

ESPN’s Malika Andrews and Marc J. Spears already reported the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans plan to kneel together around the “Black Lives Matter” lettering painted on the court during the national anthem of the NBA’s official restart on Thursday, but this act of solidarity was predictable, almost expected, for anyone who’s followed America’s most progressive sports league over the last four months.

Despite some recent misinformation threatening to shift the focus from the issues at hand, the NBA has been at the forefront of both proper safety procedures for the coronavirus pandemic and the importance of Black Lives Matter.

With its bubble experiment yielding zero positive COVID-19 cases out of 346 players tested since July 20, the league has been more effective than even the federal government in showing how effective social distancing, frequent testing and wearing a mask can be in flattening the curve. By keeping the focus on George Floyd, Breonna Taylor and the other victims of senseless police brutality during media availability sessions, the players are setting the tone as vocal social activists, using their platforms to relay a message.

Before the first seeding game tips off, that message will be loud and clear, broadcast to a national audience that’s starved for a distraction, an escape, a refuge from the current troubles of the world. What it will actually provide, for those willing to listen, is an opportunity for unity.

That is not the realistic outcome, of course; many will be turned off by this “political” gesture, misconstrue it as “disrespecting the flag” and regurgitate the never-ending Colin Kaepernick gripes that should’ve abated years ago. The same debates will resurface for the thousandth time. The same uncomfortable silence that’s permeated the air between you and those family members and friends (you know the ones) will feel more tenuous than ever.

But at its core, viewers tuning in to watch Thursday’s highly anticipated return to action have an option to enjoy basketball again fully, without annoyance, aggravation or argument over this inevitable peaceful protest  — all they have to do is acknowledge the simple truth that Black lives do, in fact, matter, that this country has a major problem in that department, and that this message is absolutely worth making people uncomfortable over.

That’s it. That’s all it takes.

This is an unprecedented moment in sports history. While NASCAR, MLS, MLB and the WNBA have already returned to action in the U.S., none of them has the combined reach, player recognition and social activist staying power of the NBA. Their platform has never been bigger, their course of action never clearer, their potential impact never more vital.

The world is as uncertain, divisive and daunting as ever. By simply watching these NBA athletes kneel for the countless victims of police brutality in this country, sympathizing with their pain and soaking in this unique moment in history without judgment or reservation, the sports-hungry national audience could experience a sense of unity that’s been virtually nonexistent in 2020.

But for those simply tuning in to watch Zion Williamson dunk, see if Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert secretly hate each other or just enjoy basketball again? Well, the demonstrations won’t stop after Jazz vs. Pelicans. After that comes a showdown between the Los Angeles Lakers and LA Clippers featuring LeBron James, Paul George and Dwight Howard — three of the NBA’s most outspoken players in pursuing justice for Breonna Taylor. And that still leaves 18 teams that won’t have played their first seeding game yet and will want to make a similar statement.

There’s going to be a lot of kneeling during anthems. There’s going to be jerseys with social justice messages emblazoned on the back. And there’s going to be a lot of pregame and postgame comments about Black Lives Matter.

The NBA is back, and that’s extremely exciting. Lord knows we’ve missed it. But basketball is no longer a safe haven to escape the troubles of the world; in a predominantly Black league, it’s on the frontlines of spreading awareness to those who would otherwise attempt to turn a blind eye, to have their cake and eat it too, all without paying the oppression of the baker a second thought.

Burying one’s head in the sand should only be an option for those comfortable with staying there while the rest of us enjoy the return of sports above ground.

So here’s a fair warning, sports fans: You might as well get used to this and get on board now, because any agitation stirred up by a peaceful demonstration pales in comparison to the pain and injustice that will literally bring your favorite NBA players to their knees this weekend.

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