R&I – FS
LeBron James is one of the most politically active athletes in the world. He has spoken out in favor of gun control, opened a school, and only recently started a voting rights organization ahead of the 2020 presidential election. He is also, by far, the most influential voice within the NBA itself. Patrick Beverley said it best when the league and players were considering restarting the season in June. “If King James said we hooping,” Beverley tweeted, “We all hooping.”
On Wednesday, though, James’ Lakers as well as their primary rival, the Los Angeles Clippers, are the primary factions against finishing the 2019-20 NBA season following the shooting of Jacob Blake by Wisconsin police officers, according to multiple reports. While it is unclear whether the two teams formally voted against resuming the season or have merely pushed back against it, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reports that when LeBron left the meeting, the Lakers and Clippers followed him out the door.
James, according to Charania, wants owners to take more action and be more involved in creating social change. He has already voiced his displeasure with the steps the league has taken on the front. He chose to wear his own name on the back of his jersey at Disney rather than a social justice message because he was not satisfied with the options that the league approved.
RandyMarsh