Players challenge NBA owners to be proactive in social justice measures

NBA players demand action beyond monetary commitments from team owners

NBA players and coaches took a stand on Wednesday, holding a ‘players strike’ which saw all three NBA games canceled on Wednesday, and by later that evening, games scheduled for Thursday were also called off. The players took part in was has been called a ‘boycott’, yet reports have shown that NBA owners have stood behind their players. As some figures in the NBA have noted, that is not enough.

On Thursday morning, the NBA made a statement that the league was still in negotiations between players and owners, for a potential return to play to take place on Friday or Saturday at the latest.

The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that a big part of the return to play bargaining was the players challenging team owners to be proactive, rather than reactive when it came to social injustice issues.

Charania also reported that players specifically demanded real action to be taken by NBA ownership groups, not just financial commitments.

This comes after what was reported by Yahoo Sports to be a heated player meeting on Wednesday night.

Players reportedly demanded more from the owners, who previously pledged $300 million dollars over 10 years to ’empower Black communities.’ They reportedly called for NBA owners to use ‘their political power and capital’ to focus on issues such as police and education reform.

According to the Athletic, the meeting had not adjourned before both the LA Lakers and Clippers voted  to fully end the season on Wednesday night.

Michael Jordan was ‘voice of reason’ in negotiations

On Thursday morning, it was reported that further negotiations were taking place between the players and owners. Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan joined the call and was reportedly acting as an advocate for the players, while also representing his interests as a team owner.
Jordan was reportedly hailed as a ‘voice of reason’ and worked as a mediator between the players and owners during the negotiation process on Thursday.

As per ESPN, Jordan, who is the only Black majority owner in the NBA, reached out NBPA’s president Chris Paul in advance of the board of governors meeting to get a ‘better understanding’ of what the players were looking for as far as a plan to settle negotiations and get back to playing. Jordan reportedly also spoke to the Houston Rockets, concerning issues of social justice.

Tilman Fertitta, the owner of the Houston Rockets, told CNBC that he did not perceive the work stoppage to be directed in grievance towards the owners, but understood their frustrations, claiming they may have ‘needed a break.’

By the early afternoon, Fertitta put his money where his mouth is, and pledged to allow the Houston Rockets’ home arena, the Toyota Center, to be used as a polling station for the 2020 presidential election in November.

Other owners were vocal about their willingness to do whatever it takes to help the NBA amplify the league’s message. Sacramento King’s part-owner Chris Kelly told CNBC that the initial agreement for a return to Orlando was predominately centered around creating a ‘social justice platform.’ However, Kelly doubled down on his original statement and told CNBC that the Kings ownership group will “continue that work,” adding “we think that we’ll be able to do that in partnership with the players.”

The exact extent of what NBA owners are going to be willing to do to appease their players is still to be determined. However, there is some encouragement coming from the more vocal and forward-thinking owners like Mark Cuban, Jeanie Buss, and Steve Balmer. The scope of these initiatives, and their exact impact on the state of ‘social justice’ in North America and abroad, remains to be seen, but for now, it seems as though NBA owners are taking steps in the right direction.