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In a joint statement between the NBA and NBPA, the league has announced the playoffs will resume Saturday, along with a new initiative for its ongoing fight for social justice and racial equality.
An established coalition between its players, coaches, and governors plan to increase voting access via local arenas and promote civic engagement while advocating for police and justice reform. Per ESPN, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA executive director Michele Roberts said the following:
“These commitments follow months of close collaboration around designing a safe and healthy environment to restart the NBA season, providing a platform to promote social justice, as well as creating an NBA Foundation focused on economic empowerment in the Black community,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver and NBPA executive director Michele Roberts said in the statement. “We look forward to the resumption of the playoffs and continuing to work together – in Orlando and in all NBA team markets – to push for meaningful and sustainable change.”
NBA & NBPA’s Joint Statement:
The NBA & NBPA’s joint statement, in part, as follows:
“We had a candid, impassioned and productive conversation yesterday between NBA players, coaches, and team governors regarding the next steps to further our collective efforts and actions in support of social justice and racial equality. Among others, the attendees included players and team representatives of all 13 teams in Orlando. All parties agreed to resume NBA playoff games on Saturday, Aug. 29 with the understanding that the league together with the players will work on enact the following commitments:
- The NBA and its players have agreed to immediately establish a social justice coalition, with representatives from players, coaches, and governors, that will be focused on a broad range of issues, including increasing access to voting, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for meaningful police and justice reform.
- In every city where the league franchise owns and controls the arena property, team governors will continue to work with local elections officials to convert the facility into a voting location for the 2020 general election to allow for a safe in-person voting option for communities vulnerable to COVID. If a deadline has passed, team governors will work with local elections officials to find another election-related use for the facility, including but not limited to voter registration and ballot receiving boards.
- The league will work with the players and our network partners to create and include advertising spots in each NBA playoff game dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement in national and local elections and raising awareness around voter access and opportunity.
“These commitments follow months of close collaboration around designing a safe and healthy environment to restart the NBA season, providing a platform to promote social justice, as well as creating an NBA Foundation focused on economic empowerment in the Black community.
“We look forward to the resumption of the playoffs and continuing to work together – in Orlando and in NBA team markets – to push for meaningful and sustainable change.”
NBA Playoff Schedule
The NBA has confirmed that Saturday’s games will open with the Milwaukee Bucks vs the Orlando Magic at 3:30 EST. The Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets (6:30 EST), Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers (9:30 EST) will follow.
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