Colin Kaepernick caused a huge uproar in the sports community when he (and other players around the NFL) took a knee during U.S. National Anthem. Some saw it as a patriotic way of expressing his grievances and others saw it as disrespect to the flag, the country, and the troops who are fighting for the country.
No matter which side of the aisle you’re on, you can agree that the situation is controversial and created a pretty big divide within the NFL community.
Eventually, the world and the league moved on, and Kaep hasn’t been seen on the field since.
But with the recent BLM protests, the line between a protest and outright disrespect has become a talking point once again and this time, the NBA will likely be the focal point.
In a report by Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times, players plan to kneel during the National Anthem once the real games start on July 30 at Walt Disney World in Orlando.
Sources: NBA players plan to kneel during National Athem on opening nights of season, starting Thurs. Bucks, Lakers, Clippers, Raptors, Celtics, Nuggets, Jazz, Heat staying at same hotel had a meeting. “One of the 1st oncourt actions will be kneeling opening night,” player said.
— Brad Turner (@BA_Turner) July 24, 2020
Interestingly enough, kneeling was prohibited by Adam Silver back when the situation was unfolding in the NFL. If players follow-through on their plans, they can expect some sort of penalty by the league whether it’s a fine or even a suspension.
Furthermore, since only the upper-tier teams have agreed to kneel (as far as we know), it will be interesting to see how any subsequent penalties affect their postseason run.
Regardless, for the players, the treatment and suffering of the Black community is an issue that transcends the game. No matter what you think of their actions, good on them to stand up (or in this case, kneel down) to what they believe in.
