NBA Stars React to Ongoing Protests Following Death of George Floyd
When unarmed black man George Floyd was killed by a white policeman, the latest in a long line of such incidents, it was only going to be a matter of time before a groundswell of protests began and understandably celebrities and sports stars have voiced their concerns at a system that allows such brutality to occur.
Among those reacting, as well as joining, to the protests that have sprung up across the country are a number of NBA stars seeking to use their voice as a vehicle for change.
LA Lakers star Lebron James took to Twitter to voice his anger at yet another senseless death at the hands of law enforcement, stating; “Why Doesn’t America Love Us too?”
While some NBA players elected to join the peaceful protests, including Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, who drove 15 hours to join a protest in Atlanta, there he was joined by Pacers’ star Malcolm Brogdon.
The reaction hasn’t just been from current players, NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar went on Twitter to make a statement on the situation.
“Yes, protests often are used as an excuse for some to take advantage, just as when fans celebrating a hometown sports team championship burn cars and destroy storefronts. I don’t want to see stores looted or even buildings burn. But African Americans have been living in a burning building for many years, choking on the smoke as the flames burn closer and closer. Racism in America is like dust in the air. It seems invisible — even if you’re choking on it — until you let the sun in. Then you see it’s everywhere. As long as we keep shining that light, we have a chance of cleaning it wherever it lands. But we have to stay vigilant, because it’s always still in the air.
“So, maybe the black community’s main concern right now isn’t whether protesters are standing three or six feet apart or whether a few desperate souls steal some T-shirts or even set a police station on fire, but whether their sons, husbands, brothers and fathers will be murdered by cops or wannabe cops just for going on a walk, a jog, a drive. Or whether being black means sheltering at home for the rest of their lives because the racism virus infecting the country is more deadly than COVID-19.”
Meanwhile talk of restart of the NBA season is starting to gain a resurgence and there is talk of the season going straight to the postseason, direct to the playoffs, in a move that could well lead to a great deal of action on the NBA betting lines.
On that front, the team leading the Bovada NBA odds remains the Los Angeles Lakers, at +200, with the Milwaukee Bucks close behind at +245.
