New Album & The Beginning of Basketball Season
- Thread starter Ron Party
- Start date
"Three head coaches, Gregg Popovich, Mike D’Antoni, and Alvin Gentry could be restricted from making the trip to Orlando for the final stage of the tournament. The same goes for several assistants. "
https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1071417/nba-coaches-react-to-restarting-protocols/
https://www.eurohoops.net/en/nba-news/1071417/nba-coaches-react-to-restarting-protocols/
That IMO amounts to nothing more than posturing to make a point. It will go nowhere and Kyrie is nothing more than a $hit disturber
Report: Lakers believe Dwight Howard plans to play in Orlando
Yahoo Sports
Los Angeles Lakers star Dwight Howard never intended to halt the NBA restart by addressing concerns in a call organized by Kyrie Irving last week, he said in a statement on Wednesday. He lent his support to players making their own decisions about playing, and while he didn’t say what he will decide, the Lakers believe he plans to play, per the Los Angeles Times.
Avery Bradley also publicly expressed concerns about the re-start in Orlando, which is scheduled to begin July 30, and the organization is “less clear” about his plans, per the Times.
Howard, Irving believe basketball is ‘a distraction’
Howard released a statement over the weekend saying he agreed with Irving and that “basketball, or entertainment period, isn’t needed at this moment, and will only be a distraction.” Irving reportedly is against going to Orlando and wants to work on the frontlines for racial justice. The Brooklyn Nets star reportedly proposed to teammates that they start their own league.
Howard never intended to prevent season restart
Howard released another statement on Wednesday via Stadium clarifying what he meant by joining the call Irving hosted. He said the group was not attempting to “halt” the league’s plan and it was “silly” to suggest they could anyway.
Howard’s statement reads in part:
“Our main objective is to raise awareness and gain transparency on the things that concern us collectively. Many of our fellow players are afraid to voice their concerns and are continuing to follow along with what they believe they have to.
“Some of these players may have leaders that could speak for them but unfortunately as history shows, leaders sometimes become self serving [sic] and forget the people that they are supposed to represent. Some leaders even use fear and intimidation to make sure they serve their own agendas, while forgetting the feelings of their people.
“In a time like this where we are fighting for equal rights it would be contradictory if we told our own players to not play and do as we say. We are not here to dictate, nor do we have the power to do so. We want to make sure communication is taking place openly with out fear.
“As radical as Kyrie may sound, he is 100% correct. We are no longer slaves, so every man has a right to transparency in order to make sound decisions.
“And as Avery said, in the decisions we make, be sure we are thinking of everyone collectively and not moving based off of selfish agendas.
“If any one of us chooses to sit, it has nothing to do with another player’s right to play. Not once has any of us told one of our fellow brethren not to go to the Orlando Bubble Experiment and we stressed that in our meetings.
“We spoke about our individual stances, which again, as men and women with free speech we are entitled to do so. We stressed the importance of unity amongst us even if we have a difference in opinion.”
The call took place with more than 80 NBA and WNBA players to discuss any concerns about returning to basketball during a national time of unrest following the death of George Floyd and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The WNBA and its players union agreed to a bubble plan at IMG Academy in Florida that would begin in late July.
A divide in the Lakers?
Howard and Avery’s stances have created questions of a divide in the organization, though one unnamed player told ESPN that wasn’t the case.
LeBron James is still reportedly on board to continue the season, believing he can both win a title and work for racial justice reform.
Via the Los Angeles Times:
“I don't think there's any question amongst players as to what LeBron’s planning on doing,” a person familiar with James’ thinking said.
The Lakers lead the Western Conference by 5.5 games and have a solid shot at winning the NBA title.
Yahoo Sports
Los Angeles Lakers star Dwight Howard never intended to halt the NBA restart by addressing concerns in a call organized by Kyrie Irving last week, he said in a statement on Wednesday. He lent his support to players making their own decisions about playing, and while he didn’t say what he will decide, the Lakers believe he plans to play, per the Los Angeles Times.
Avery Bradley also publicly expressed concerns about the re-start in Orlando, which is scheduled to begin July 30, and the organization is “less clear” about his plans, per the Times.
Howard, Irving believe basketball is ‘a distraction’
Howard released a statement over the weekend saying he agreed with Irving and that “basketball, or entertainment period, isn’t needed at this moment, and will only be a distraction.” Irving reportedly is against going to Orlando and wants to work on the frontlines for racial justice. The Brooklyn Nets star reportedly proposed to teammates that they start their own league.
Howard never intended to prevent season restart
Howard released another statement on Wednesday via Stadium clarifying what he meant by joining the call Irving hosted. He said the group was not attempting to “halt” the league’s plan and it was “silly” to suggest they could anyway.
Howard’s statement reads in part:
“Our main objective is to raise awareness and gain transparency on the things that concern us collectively. Many of our fellow players are afraid to voice their concerns and are continuing to follow along with what they believe they have to.
“Some of these players may have leaders that could speak for them but unfortunately as history shows, leaders sometimes become self serving [sic] and forget the people that they are supposed to represent. Some leaders even use fear and intimidation to make sure they serve their own agendas, while forgetting the feelings of their people.
“In a time like this where we are fighting for equal rights it would be contradictory if we told our own players to not play and do as we say. We are not here to dictate, nor do we have the power to do so. We want to make sure communication is taking place openly with out fear.
“As radical as Kyrie may sound, he is 100% correct. We are no longer slaves, so every man has a right to transparency in order to make sound decisions.
“And as Avery said, in the decisions we make, be sure we are thinking of everyone collectively and not moving based off of selfish agendas.
“If any one of us chooses to sit, it has nothing to do with another player’s right to play. Not once has any of us told one of our fellow brethren not to go to the Orlando Bubble Experiment and we stressed that in our meetings.
“We spoke about our individual stances, which again, as men and women with free speech we are entitled to do so. We stressed the importance of unity amongst us even if we have a difference in opinion.”
The call took place with more than 80 NBA and WNBA players to discuss any concerns about returning to basketball during a national time of unrest following the death of George Floyd and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The WNBA and its players union agreed to a bubble plan at IMG Academy in Florida that would begin in late July.
A divide in the Lakers?
Howard and Avery’s stances have created questions of a divide in the organization, though one unnamed player told ESPN that wasn’t the case.
LeBron James is still reportedly on board to continue the season, believing he can both win a title and work for racial justice reform.
Via the Los Angeles Times:
“I don't think there's any question amongst players as to what LeBron’s planning on doing,” a person familiar with James’ thinking said.
The Lakers lead the Western Conference by 5.5 games and have a solid shot at winning the NBA title.
Well Steve, after helping Toronto win the title last June, he had 5 months to rest, and still practiced load management once the new season started, so the safe answer would be Yes.
I would be shocked if he did but you might be correctWell Steve, after helping Toronto win the title last June, he had 5 months to rest, and still practiced load management once the new season started, so the safe answer would be Yes.
I think the biggest factor in who’s going to win it all is going to come down to fitness and stamina. These guys have been at home since March and I’m sure working out but at playoffs the survivors are also at their peak physical form So I still believe there will be upsets. Im hoping things will be calm by end of July
By now , I am very eager to see how pro players play without fans to chant 'Defense' to protect a lead, and 'let's go ___' to make a rally or comeback. Those 'psychological advantages' will not be there. No drama ala Reggie Miller's choke sign at Spike Lee. I would have thought a perfect format would be a slug out ala NCAA tournament of 64, 1 game knockout till the final 4 gets into a 7-game playoffs. But the league wants its money.
Reality check..........
Concern throughout NBA grows as coronavirus cases spike in Florida
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=29342915
The surging number of coronavirus cases in Florida, which posted a record high Saturday for the third consecutive day, has raised concerns in many corners of the NBA, from players to team executives to the league office itself, as it prepares to resume play in Orlando next month.
Florida added 4,049 new cases Saturday, which broke the previous single-day record of 3,822 set Friday. In all, the state has set records for single-day cases in seven of the past 10 days and is approaching 94,000 infections -- becoming a national hot spot along with Texas and Arizona, states that are also seeing surging case numbers.
In at least one recent call with high-level team executives, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has acknowledged the spiking numbers in Florida. Team sources described the general tone of that call, including the questions asked of Silver on it, as tense. Another called Silver's tone "resolute but somber." He expressed a resolve to go on -- a confidence in the NBA's bubble concept -- while recognizing the seriousness of the coronavirus spike, sources said.
The National Basketball Players Association held a virtual town hall with players this week and addressed concerns about the Florida cases, sources familiar with the matter told ESPN. Players brought up the fact that Walt Disney World staffers who will not reside in the NBA campus -- including hotel housekeepers -- will not be subject to any coronavirus testing, sources said. One mitigating factor that was cited, a source added: Many of the new cases are in areas other than Orlando.
South Florida remains the state's hardest-hit region, accounting for almost half of the total cases in the state, and Miami-Dade County alone has nearly 25,000 cases.
Walt Disney World, which will house 22 teams, sits largely in Orange County and in part of Osceola County -- both located in Central Florida, a region that hasn't been hit nearly as hard. Orange County has about 4,500 cases, and Osceola County has reported about 1,000.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN that the league is "closely monitoring the data in Florida and Orange County and will continue to work collaboratively with the National Basketball Players Association, public health officials and medical experts regarding our plans."
Of the rising figures, NBPA executive director Michele Roberts told ESPN: "Can't say I am surprised, given the state's approach to reopening. We are obviously clearly monitoring the situation. While we take some solace in knowing our players will not travel commercially to get to Orlando, that access to the campus is severely limited and, of course, all of the other health and safety protocols in place, the numbers will keep our attention. If necessary to add further restrictions respecting those third parties having access to the campus, we will seek to implement them."
Roberts added that by "third parties," she meant Disney staffers who will be servicing the hotels where teams are staying or providing other services at the resort.
She said it remains to be seen what restrictions -- if any -- might be possible given that many Disney employees are unionized.
That sentiment was relayed in interviews with several team officials throughout the league, including several general managers.
Said one head athletic trainer: "Everything that we know about Disney -- and we've read over the years -- is that you don't realize how many thousands of people work there, right? That's the magic behind it all -- the amount of staff and the amount of services that they provide. And they're in and out of the bubble."
The league, in its 113-page health guidelines sent to teams this week, outlined several precautions meant to minimize and even eliminate contact between Disney staffers and NBA personnel. Disney will assign staff to specific hotels rather than having them rotate between hotels, the document states. They will service rooms only once per week and only when players and staff are not present in those rooms. Disney staff will wear personal protective equipment, including masks, and maintain social distancing if they are ever in the same space with NBA personnel, the guidelines state.
Team bus drivers are expected to be retained via a non-Disney vendor and be subject to some coronavirus testing, a source familiar with the matter told ESPN.
Several leading epidemiologists praised the NBA's general plan in interviews with ESPN over the past two weeks, even while acknowledging there was no way for the league to maintain a true "bubble." They said that, absent the authority to govern the work conditions and medical monitoring of Disney staffers, the NBA had taken appropriate steps to reduce the threat of any of them transmitting the coronavirus to league personnel. Entirely eliminating the threat is not possible, those experts told ESPN.
Most teams aren't slated to arrive in Orlando until July 7, 8 or 9 -- except for Toronto, which is the only team scheduled to arrive during the first phase of the plan (June 12-22). No games are expected to take place until July 30. Given the weeks-long gap between the most recent reports in Florida and the resumption of the season, several team executives and other team officials said they are hopeful the number of coronavirus cases will start to decline.
Per the NBA's health and safety protocol, players are scheduled to begin being tested June 23, and team executives and other staffers told ESPN that they expect some positive cases when the results arrive. Some executives and staffers speculated it might be better to get positive cases out of the way now, because players can quarantine before going to Orlando. Others cautioned that positive cases will set back their readiness to play games.
ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Company.
Concern throughout NBA grows as coronavirus cases spike in Florida
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=29342915
The surging number of coronavirus cases in Florida, which posted a record high Saturday for the third consecutive day, has raised concerns in many corners of the NBA, from players to team executives to the league office itself, as it prepares to resume play in Orlando next month.
Florida added 4,049 new cases Saturday, which broke the previous single-day record of 3,822 set Friday. In all, the state has set records for single-day cases in seven of the past 10 days and is approaching 94,000 infections -- becoming a national hot spot along with Texas and Arizona, states that are also seeing surging case numbers.
In at least one recent call with high-level team executives, NBA commissioner Adam Silver has acknowledged the spiking numbers in Florida. Team sources described the general tone of that call, including the questions asked of Silver on it, as tense. Another called Silver's tone "resolute but somber." He expressed a resolve to go on -- a confidence in the NBA's bubble concept -- while recognizing the seriousness of the coronavirus spike, sources said.
The National Basketball Players Association held a virtual town hall with players this week and addressed concerns about the Florida cases, sources familiar with the matter told ESPN. Players brought up the fact that Walt Disney World staffers who will not reside in the NBA campus -- including hotel housekeepers -- will not be subject to any coronavirus testing, sources said. One mitigating factor that was cited, a source added: Many of the new cases are in areas other than Orlando.
South Florida remains the state's hardest-hit region, accounting for almost half of the total cases in the state, and Miami-Dade County alone has nearly 25,000 cases.
Walt Disney World, which will house 22 teams, sits largely in Orange County and in part of Osceola County -- both located in Central Florida, a region that hasn't been hit nearly as hard. Orange County has about 4,500 cases, and Osceola County has reported about 1,000.
NBA spokesman Mike Bass told ESPN that the league is "closely monitoring the data in Florida and Orange County and will continue to work collaboratively with the National Basketball Players Association, public health officials and medical experts regarding our plans."
Of the rising figures, NBPA executive director Michele Roberts told ESPN: "Can't say I am surprised, given the state's approach to reopening. We are obviously clearly monitoring the situation. While we take some solace in knowing our players will not travel commercially to get to Orlando, that access to the campus is severely limited and, of course, all of the other health and safety protocols in place, the numbers will keep our attention. If necessary to add further restrictions respecting those third parties having access to the campus, we will seek to implement them."
Roberts added that by "third parties," she meant Disney staffers who will be servicing the hotels where teams are staying or providing other services at the resort.
She said it remains to be seen what restrictions -- if any -- might be possible given that many Disney employees are unionized.
That sentiment was relayed in interviews with several team officials throughout the league, including several general managers.
Said one head athletic trainer: "Everything that we know about Disney -- and we've read over the years -- is that you don't realize how many thousands of people work there, right? That's the magic behind it all -- the amount of staff and the amount of services that they provide. And they're in and out of the bubble."
The league, in its 113-page health guidelines sent to teams this week, outlined several precautions meant to minimize and even eliminate contact between Disney staffers and NBA personnel. Disney will assign staff to specific hotels rather than having them rotate between hotels, the document states. They will service rooms only once per week and only when players and staff are not present in those rooms. Disney staff will wear personal protective equipment, including masks, and maintain social distancing if they are ever in the same space with NBA personnel, the guidelines state.
Team bus drivers are expected to be retained via a non-Disney vendor and be subject to some coronavirus testing, a source familiar with the matter told ESPN.
Several leading epidemiologists praised the NBA's general plan in interviews with ESPN over the past two weeks, even while acknowledging there was no way for the league to maintain a true "bubble." They said that, absent the authority to govern the work conditions and medical monitoring of Disney staffers, the NBA had taken appropriate steps to reduce the threat of any of them transmitting the coronavirus to league personnel. Entirely eliminating the threat is not possible, those experts told ESPN.
Most teams aren't slated to arrive in Orlando until July 7, 8 or 9 -- except for Toronto, which is the only team scheduled to arrive during the first phase of the plan (June 12-22). No games are expected to take place until July 30. Given the weeks-long gap between the most recent reports in Florida and the resumption of the season, several team executives and other team officials said they are hopeful the number of coronavirus cases will start to decline.
Per the NBA's health and safety protocol, players are scheduled to begin being tested June 23, and team executives and other staffers told ESPN that they expect some positive cases when the results arrive. Some executives and staffers speculated it might be better to get positive cases out of the way now, because players can quarantine before going to Orlando. Others cautioned that positive cases will set back their readiness to play games.
ESPN is owned by The Walt Disney Company.
Looks the the mountain is getting tougher and tougher to climb.
The merry go round keeps spinning for the Knicks
Report: Knicks plan to interview Mike Brown, Mike Woodson for vacancy
Woodson coached New York to a record of 109-79 from 2011-12 until 2013-14
From NBA media reports
The New York Knicks are still searching for their next coach and will reportedly talk to a name from their past about that job opening.
Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports the Knicks plan to interview former Knicks coach Mike Woodson once they begin parsing through candidates for their vacancy. Former Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau, former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson and Knicks interim coach Mike Miller are also supposed to interview for the job, per multiple reports.
In addition to Woodson being in the potential mix for the opening, current Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown is also set to interview for the job, reports Shams Charnaia of The Athletic.
Brown is best known as the former coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, whom he led in two separate stints. In his first run with the Cavs from 2005-10, he went 272-138 and took Cleveland to The Finals in 2007. His second stint, in 2013-14, saw him go 33-49 before being fired. He was also coach of the Los Angeles Lakers from 2011-13, going 42-29 in 71 games there.
As of late May, Thibodeau has been reported as the top candidate for the opening. The Knicks fired coach David Fizdale in December after a 4-18 start. Since then, Miller has served as interim coach.
Miller, according to The Athletic, is expected to receive an interview once the search process is officially underway. Atkinson, who agreed to part ways with the Nets on Mar. 7, is reportedly likely to receive an interview as well.
Woodson last served as an assistant coach with the LA Clippers from 2014-18. He coached the Knicks from 2011-12 to 2013-14 and led the team to its most successful season in years. The 2012-13 team, under Woodson's leadership, went 54-28, won the Atlantic Division and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals. That was the Knicks' only playoff season win since 2000.
Before coaching the Knicks, Woodson was coach of the Atlanta Hawks from 2004-10, amassing a 206-286 record that included three playoff appearances.
Begley reports interviews for the opening are expected to begin once New York has clarity on the rest of the NBA season. The league has reportedly presented a plan to restart the season.
Thibodeau has not coached since January of 2019, when he was fired from the Minnesota Timberwolves as both coach and president of basketball operations. He's assembled a 352-246 coaching record between his stints with Minnesota and the Chicago Bulls.
The Knicks and president of basketball operations Leon Rose will reportedly be targeting their next coach "within the next few weeks," but the timetable could be impacted by the NBA's decision on how to approach the upcoming season.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reports the Nets and Houston Rockets may also have interest in Thibodeau.
Report: Knicks plan to interview Mike Brown, Mike Woodson for vacancy
Woodson coached New York to a record of 109-79 from 2011-12 until 2013-14
From NBA media reports
The New York Knicks are still searching for their next coach and will reportedly talk to a name from their past about that job opening.
Ian Begley of SNY.tv reports the Knicks plan to interview former Knicks coach Mike Woodson once they begin parsing through candidates for their vacancy. Former Chicago Bulls and Minnesota Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau, former Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson and Knicks interim coach Mike Miller are also supposed to interview for the job, per multiple reports.
In addition to Woodson being in the potential mix for the opening, current Golden State Warriors assistant coach Mike Brown is also set to interview for the job, reports Shams Charnaia of The Athletic.
Brown is best known as the former coach of the Cleveland Cavaliers, whom he led in two separate stints. In his first run with the Cavs from 2005-10, he went 272-138 and took Cleveland to The Finals in 2007. His second stint, in 2013-14, saw him go 33-49 before being fired. He was also coach of the Los Angeles Lakers from 2011-13, going 42-29 in 71 games there.
As of late May, Thibodeau has been reported as the top candidate for the opening. The Knicks fired coach David Fizdale in December after a 4-18 start. Since then, Miller has served as interim coach.
Miller, according to The Athletic, is expected to receive an interview once the search process is officially underway. Atkinson, who agreed to part ways with the Nets on Mar. 7, is reportedly likely to receive an interview as well.
Woodson last served as an assistant coach with the LA Clippers from 2014-18. He coached the Knicks from 2011-12 to 2013-14 and led the team to its most successful season in years. The 2012-13 team, under Woodson's leadership, went 54-28, won the Atlantic Division and reached the Eastern Conference semifinals. That was the Knicks' only playoff season win since 2000.
Before coaching the Knicks, Woodson was coach of the Atlanta Hawks from 2004-10, amassing a 206-286 record that included three playoff appearances.
Begley reports interviews for the opening are expected to begin once New York has clarity on the rest of the NBA season. The league has reportedly presented a plan to restart the season.
Thibodeau has not coached since January of 2019, when he was fired from the Minnesota Timberwolves as both coach and president of basketball operations. He's assembled a 352-246 coaching record between his stints with Minnesota and the Chicago Bulls.
The Knicks and president of basketball operations Leon Rose will reportedly be targeting their next coach "within the next few weeks," but the timetable could be impacted by the NBA's decision on how to approach the upcoming season.
Marc Berman of the New York Post reports the Nets and Houston Rockets may also have interest in Thibodeau.
The defending champions have arrived in Florida.
https://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/22/raptors-arrive-florida-restart-season
https://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/22/raptors-arrive-florida-restart-season
best news of the day. I hope the Knicks take Kidd
Report: Knicks plan to interview Mike Brown, Mike Woodson, Jason Kidd for vacancy
Woodson coached New York to a record of 109-79 from 2011-12 until 2013-14
From NBA media reports
https://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/04/report-knicks-plan-interview-mike-woodson-vacancy
Report: Knicks plan to interview Mike Brown, Mike Woodson, Jason Kidd for vacancy
Woodson coached New York to a record of 109-79 from 2011-12 until 2013-14
From NBA media reports
https://www.nba.com/article/2020/06/04/report-knicks-plan-interview-mike-woodson-vacancy
I like Avery Bradley as a player and respect his decision not to play. But say this isn’t so...,.the king has been meddling again.....
Lakers' Avery Bradley opts out of season restart
JR Smith reportedly leading team's list of candidates to fill Bradley's spot
From NBA Twitter and media reports
Lakers' Avery Bradley opts out of season restart
JR Smith reportedly leading team's list of candidates to fill Bradley's spot
From NBA Twitter and media reports
Last edited:
I also read ...IMO if he sits that takes away a huge advantage for the Clipps
Clippers' Lou Williams '50-50' on NBA players returning, doesn't want to be 'a distraction'
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=29313862
LA Clippers guard Lou Williams reiterated his and other players' concerns Friday that resuming the NBA season could distract from the nationwide movement for social justice.
Williams, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, said on a virtual chat hosted by CoStar that he is "50-50" on returning, as a group of players weigh the positives and negatives of resuming the season in Orlando, Florida, after it was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Williams voiced his concern that games could take the focus off the Black Lives Matter movement.
"The point that some of the guys are raising about not playing is, basically, we don't want to be a distraction," Williams said when asked during the chat what the next move is for the players. "For us, the only benefit of us not playing is to keep the focus on the fight. And with that being said, this [return] is in six weeks. ... In six weeks, the world may need some healing. They may need us to be on the floor. But if more black kids or black adults or any adults that's dealing with police brutality are getting killed, and we are still outraged, I don't know if it is in our best interest to suit up.
"Because it looks like that we don't care. If we do suit up -- and we are having conversations behind closed doors -- how much of this platform can we really use? Can we get a Black Lives Matter patch on our jersey? Can our jerseys say Black Lives Matter? Can the court say Black Lives Matter? So we can use that platform to the best of our abilities. Honestly, it is hard to call. I'm 50-50, to be honest with you."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews reported that a coalition of players that includes Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving and Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley are exploring concerns and solutions related to returning to play, including what the league will do about the fight for social justice.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said recently that he understood the concerns players might have about returning. Silver said the league was listening and exploring all avenues and ideas about how to continue the fight for equality and promote the Black Lives Matter movement.
For its opening matches, the Premier League announced that player names on jerseys would be replaced by Black Lives Matter and that there would be a sleeve patch featured for the rest of the season.
In a tweet June 13, Williams wrote, "I never said I wasn't gonna play," when voicing some of his concerns about the league's restart potentially taking the focus and intensity off the continued protests. The Clippers (44-20) are second in the Western Conference behind the Lakers (49-14). With both Los Angeles teams contending for a title, Williams wondered if some protesters would be distracted or opt to remain home if the Lakers and Clippers were playing.
Williams also raised the potential negative optics of players being in training camp or playing in a game and it being "easy to say these guys aren't focused on social justice issues, and that is unfair to us."
"If we are really about this cause, we don't need anything distracting us, whether it is football, baseball, LeBron James, Tom Brady, whoever," Williams said. "We don't need any distractions. That is what I was trying to get across to everybody, but we don't know what that looks like in six weeks, so we'll see."
Williams said players are brainstorming down to even what to do during commercial breaks and if the NBA can use that time to educate people in some fashion.
"Listen, the fans that are critical of us, like, 'Why would you even think twice about playing?' -- this is a critical time," Williams said. "And everybody is trying to figure out the best way to maximize their voice. Because once we get to Orlando, and you tell us, 'Well, you can speak out at the postgame press conference,' OK, the reality is the press only wants to talk to only two or three different guys.
"So that mutes a lot of guys that have opinions that they can use in the real world. So what does that look like for the eighth guy or the 10th guy on the bench that has an intelligent idea, that has intelligent things to say, but he doesn't have a platform that a Lou Williams or Kawhi [Leonard] or any of these guys are going to have."
Williams said athletes all over feel freedom and support right now to express their feelings like never before. He said he and some other NBA players don't want anything to slow that progress.
"It's like a weight lifted off our shoulders because everyone has something to say, and probably for the first time in American sports, everybody can [express] their opinions freely, and it is being supported by your organizations, your teams and teammates," Williams said. "Just from the Clippers alone, we have had so many different conversations with how do we want to look going forward as an organization. When I look at our team, we have a black head coach, a black head trainer. We have an assistant coach who is an Asian woman, so we have a lot of diversity in our organization, and that is key.
"I got a lot of flak, and other guys are getting flak for saying, well, you know, maybe we shouldn't play. Because the reality is this: We have millions of people in the streets protesting. This the first time in history all 50 states have had people outside protesting for one cause. We don't want to be a distraction. We want to be an added help to the cause."
Clippers' Lou Williams '50-50' on NBA players returning, doesn't want to be 'a distraction'
http://www.espn.com/video/clip?id=29313862
LA Clippers guard Lou Williams reiterated his and other players' concerns Friday that resuming the NBA season could distract from the nationwide movement for social justice.
Williams, the reigning Sixth Man of the Year, said on a virtual chat hosted by CoStar that he is "50-50" on returning, as a group of players weigh the positives and negatives of resuming the season in Orlando, Florida, after it was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Williams voiced his concern that games could take the focus off the Black Lives Matter movement.
"The point that some of the guys are raising about not playing is, basically, we don't want to be a distraction," Williams said when asked during the chat what the next move is for the players. "For us, the only benefit of us not playing is to keep the focus on the fight. And with that being said, this [return] is in six weeks. ... In six weeks, the world may need some healing. They may need us to be on the floor. But if more black kids or black adults or any adults that's dealing with police brutality are getting killed, and we are still outraged, I don't know if it is in our best interest to suit up.
"Because it looks like that we don't care. If we do suit up -- and we are having conversations behind closed doors -- how much of this platform can we really use? Can we get a Black Lives Matter patch on our jersey? Can our jerseys say Black Lives Matter? Can the court say Black Lives Matter? So we can use that platform to the best of our abilities. Honestly, it is hard to call. I'm 50-50, to be honest with you."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews reported that a coalition of players that includes Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving and Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley are exploring concerns and solutions related to returning to play, including what the league will do about the fight for social justice.
NBA commissioner Adam Silver said recently that he understood the concerns players might have about returning. Silver said the league was listening and exploring all avenues and ideas about how to continue the fight for equality and promote the Black Lives Matter movement.
For its opening matches, the Premier League announced that player names on jerseys would be replaced by Black Lives Matter and that there would be a sleeve patch featured for the rest of the season.
In a tweet June 13, Williams wrote, "I never said I wasn't gonna play," when voicing some of his concerns about the league's restart potentially taking the focus and intensity off the continued protests. The Clippers (44-20) are second in the Western Conference behind the Lakers (49-14). With both Los Angeles teams contending for a title, Williams wondered if some protesters would be distracted or opt to remain home if the Lakers and Clippers were playing.
Williams also raised the potential negative optics of players being in training camp or playing in a game and it being "easy to say these guys aren't focused on social justice issues, and that is unfair to us."
"If we are really about this cause, we don't need anything distracting us, whether it is football, baseball, LeBron James, Tom Brady, whoever," Williams said. "We don't need any distractions. That is what I was trying to get across to everybody, but we don't know what that looks like in six weeks, so we'll see."
Williams said players are brainstorming down to even what to do during commercial breaks and if the NBA can use that time to educate people in some fashion.
"Listen, the fans that are critical of us, like, 'Why would you even think twice about playing?' -- this is a critical time," Williams said. "And everybody is trying to figure out the best way to maximize their voice. Because once we get to Orlando, and you tell us, 'Well, you can speak out at the postgame press conference,' OK, the reality is the press only wants to talk to only two or three different guys.
"So that mutes a lot of guys that have opinions that they can use in the real world. So what does that look like for the eighth guy or the 10th guy on the bench that has an intelligent idea, that has intelligent things to say, but he doesn't have a platform that a Lou Williams or Kawhi [Leonard] or any of these guys are going to have."
Williams said athletes all over feel freedom and support right now to express their feelings like never before. He said he and some other NBA players don't want anything to slow that progress.
"It's like a weight lifted off our shoulders because everyone has something to say, and probably for the first time in American sports, everybody can [express] their opinions freely, and it is being supported by your organizations, your teams and teammates," Williams said. "Just from the Clippers alone, we have had so many different conversations with how do we want to look going forward as an organization. When I look at our team, we have a black head coach, a black head trainer. We have an assistant coach who is an Asian woman, so we have a lot of diversity in our organization, and that is key.
"I got a lot of flak, and other guys are getting flak for saying, well, you know, maybe we shouldn't play. Because the reality is this: We have millions of people in the streets protesting. This the first time in history all 50 states have had people outside protesting for one cause. We don't want to be a distraction. We want to be an added help to the cause."
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