NBA players agreed on Thursday to continue playing and finish their season, but they wanted to take the opportunity created by the strike to push the league’s owners to commit to more concrete action towards combating police brutality and institutional racism. Among the many meetings that the league has had on Thursday, there was a joint call between players and team owners, where both sides expressed their concerns. According to reporting from Taylor Rooks of Bleacher Report, LeBron James was last to speak on the call, asking owners for more tangible action and consistent support on Black issues. Michael Jordan, the owner of the Charlotte Hornets, was also instrumental on the call in helping build a consensus and getting the rest of the league’s owners to listen to the players.
Sources say Lebron James was the last player to speak on the call and he delivered a strong, thoughtful message to the owners. His main point was that the work has to continue, and the owners have to truly dedicate to advancing this cause.
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 27, 2020
Sources say Michael Jordan has taken a strong position to help owners see different point of views. On today's call – he said he isn't just speaking as an owner, or even a player…he's speaking as a black man.
— Taylor Rooks (@TaylorRooks) August 27, 2020
The NBA announced on Thursday that they hoped to resume the season either Friday or Saturday, but it’s looking increasingly likely the league won’t resume the playoffs until Saturday.
