With the season set to resume in a month, NBA commissioner Adam Silver continues to make changes in regards to how the league will operate moving forward. Now, it is being reported that players will be allowed to remove their last name from the back of their jersey and add a statement on social justice.
Shams Charania of The Athletic shared the news on Twitter over the weekend stating, "The NBA and NBPA are planning to allow players to replace the last name on their jerseys with statement on social justice."
The move comes as the NBA has promised to address the ongoing issues of racial inequality and social injustice in the United States. In the 100-plus page rule book issued to players surrounding the restart of the season, the league ensures “sustained action to issues of social injustice, including combatting systemic racism, expanding educational and economic opportunities across the Black community, enacting meaningful police and criminal justice reform and promoting greater civic engagement.”
Numerous players have already voiced their concern regarding NBA games taking attention away from the Black Lives Matter movement, as some may ultimately decide to sit out the remainder of the season. Kyrie Irving, for one, has been particularly critical of the NBA restart in Florida. “I don’t support going into Orlando. I’m not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. Something smells a little fishy,” he previously stated.
The 2019-2020 NBA season is scheduled to resume on July 30. For more on what the remainder of the season will look like, follow here.
