The Los Angeles Lakers played their first game against another team since March 10 on Thursday evening, but star player LeBron James immediately shifted the focus from the team’s first organized action against the Dallas Mavericks, to the ongoing call from NBA players who are asking for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor.
Before answering questions about their scrimmage, which James said he was excited for earlier in the day, he wanted to make sure that it was clear he and other players want the policeman who shot and killed Taylor arrested. James also used the media session to discuss his willingness to speak out on issues he feels knowledgable about, particularly what it’s like to be discriminated against as Black man in America.
James held court, discussing racial injustice in the United States for almost 15 minutes. The Boston Globe’s Gary Washburn uploaded all of the videos on YouTube.
James played 15 minutes, had 12 points and five assists in the scrimmage on Thursday, but by far his most important action was continuing the call from several other NBA players, such as Philadelphia’s Tobias Harris, Portland’s CJ McCollum and even his teammate Alex Caruso, in demanding justice for Taylor and asking Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron to take action in the case.
There have been no arrests made in Taylor’s death and only one of the officers has been let go by the Louisville Police Department.
