With the NBA season just around the corner and introductions preceding the playing of the national anthem before each game, professional basketball players are about to be put in a similar situation to what NFL players have been going through over the past month or so. The decision of whether or not they should protest the playing of the national anthem before their games. Infamously, Colin Kaepernick and others have taken a stand, while the NBA finds itself in a different situation. It is actually a rule that they stand and are present for the playing of the anthem.
This is a topic that is popping up all around NBA media days and the league is on record with the players' union about working together to find a solution for how to handle this situation. When asked at media day on Monday, Air Force veteran and San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said he not only understands why players are doing it but he also respects the courage it takes for them to do it.
Pop on Anthem protests: "I absolutely understand why they're doing what they're doing and I respect their courage."
— Melissa Rohlin (@melissarohlin) September 26, 2016
A lot of the conversations surrounding the anthem protests have included accusations of them being anti-military while Kaepernick has expressed that it isn't an anti-military movement. With someone like Popovich who served in the military coming out and supporting it this type of protest with his respect, it strengthens Kaepernick's claim on that level. Pop also told reporters recently that the Spurs players know they're "engaged citizens" in this country and they have to make their own decisions about what to stand for and what value it has.
From Dave Zirin:
Spurs love Pop because he treats them like adults. His answer when I asked what he'd do if Spurs protest anthem: pic.twitter.com/AgpbcaoaEq
— Dave Zirin (@EdgeofSports) September 23, 2016
Back in the 1990s, the league was faced with this situation in a slightly different way when Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf refused to stand for the anthem and then came to the compromise of praying in line with other players on his team while the anthem played before games. Since then, they've implemented the rule that players must stand for the anthem. Now with the issue or style of protest coming back into professional sports, the league doesn't want to take away a players' right to express themselves on a topic like this or anything really, but they also want to make sure all sides of the issue are covered in a respectful manner.
We're a little over a week away from the first preseason game when we'll find out if any NBA players decide to make a statement during the anthem.
