“Without Black Athletes, The NBA Wouldn’t Be What It Is Today” : Los Angeles Lakers Guard Highlights Importance Of Not Playing In the NBA Return

After Kyrie Irving said he wasn’t against the NBA’s plan to return in Orlando, he got criticized a lot. At the same time, however, he also gained some support from Los Angeles Lakers veterans like Avery Bradley, and Dwight Howard Along with them, Irving now has a coalition fighting for the same cause.

On Tuesday, Bradley spoke to ESPN, giving them a statement while representing the coalition. He said, “The actual act of sitting out doesn’t directly fight systemic racism, but it does highlight the reality that without black athletes, the NBA wouldn’t be what it is today. The league has a responsibility to our communities in helping to empower us.”

Los Angeles Lakers duo choose community over a championship

Bradley has also never won a ring. Despite this being his biggest chance to go for a ring, Bradley says community comes first. “I agree (the) Orlando (restart) will give the players checks to contribute back into their communities,” Bradley said. “But how much of that bubble check are players actually able to contribute? Why (is) all of the responsibility being put on the players?”

In 2009, Howard came to close to winning the title, but it was his current team, the Lakers, who stopped his Orlando Magic in the Finals. Since then, he has not even come close to the Finals. At 34, he may not have too many chances after this. “I would love nothing more than to win my very first NBA Championship. But the unity of my People would be an even bigger championship, that’s just [too] beautiful to pass up. What better time than now for us to be focusing on our families. No Basketball till we get things resolved.”

The Lakers’ room is split between Bradley and Howard who are of the opinion that they should not be focusing on basketball, and LeBron James and Danny Green are keen to return. James is also said to be eager to use Orlando as a platform to take the protest to the next level. On the contrary, Bradley and co believe that playing in Orlando will take away the attention from the actual issues.