Even in the minutes before the start a crucial playoff game, the NBA can’t seem to help but take a jab at the President.
Speaking to a small audience at the press conference room ahead of Game 2 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals, Clippers coach Doc Rivers took a minute to compare the empty, lifeless space to one of Trump’s infamous rallies.
Clippers coach Doc Rivers on the empty press conference room that featured himself, a Clippers spokesperson, a few NBA staffers, myself, a photographer and empty chairs: “It looks like a Trump rally in here.” I disagree. We were all wearing masks and being socially distant.
— Mark Medina (@MarkG_Medina) September 5, 2020
While the NBA has shown no official affiliation to one side or the other, its players, teams, owners, and coaches have been notoriously anti-Trump since no. 45 took office back in January of 2017. Doc has been no stranger to it all and has spoken up and out on a number of occasions, including this quote taken back in August:
“We know that justice is on our side, right? And this hat that I’m wearing is what our president is trying to get us to not do, which I think is just as disgraceful.”
The increasing political stance taken by the NBA community has drawn both praise and criticism from both sides of the aisle. Some folk just want to watch basketball while others see this game, and the league, as a perfect platform to combat these racial, social, and political issues.
Like it or not, people within the National Basketball Association are going to continue to speak their minds, and much of it will be against President Trump.
