The Oklahoma City Thunder and Utah Jazz players kneeled while wear shirts that said Black Lives Matter during the National Anthem before Oklahoma City’s first game of the season’s resumption Saturday.
“Certainly, we’re very very aware of all that’s been going on in our country,” Thunder head coach Billy Donovan said to media shortly before the game.
“Chris Paul being president of the player’s association, we’ve had a lot of discussions about this. I think this platform to bring awareness of social injustice is important.”
This came after Oklahoma State Rep. Sean Roberts threatened to “reexamine” tax benefits the Thunder receive as part of the team’s agreement with the city if the team protested racial injustice during the National Anthem and showed support for the Black Lives Matter movement, according to KOCO.
Paul and other players have talked extensively to media about social injustice while in the bubble.
Some NBA and WNBA players joined a call with former first lady Michelle Obama last week to discuss the importance of voting and spreading awareness.
Fourteen Thunder players are wearing messages on the back of their jerseys, including “Black Lives Matter,” “Equality” and “Peace.”
