The Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans took part in a joint protest in the NBA’s first official game in it’s restart inside a bubble in Orlando at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex on Thursday. In lieu of separate protests, the two teams united for a joint protest after discussing plans during the week.
When negotiating a return to the court this summer, players insisted on having the ability to protest and continue bringing light to social justice issues and the Black Lives Matter movement. Those matters gained momentum in the wake of the murder of George Floyd which led to players league-wide taking part in protests across the country.
On Thursday, Jazz and Pelicans player and staff, as well as the referees for the contest, knelt with arms wrapped around one another during the national anthem.
The NBA has provided players with the platform to continue speaking out on the matters, particularly in post-game press conferences. The league also allowed players to sport agreed-upon social justice phrases on the back of jerseys during the restart.
