All players, coaches and the three referees knelt during the national anthem before the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans played the NBA’s first game since the coronavirus pandemic caused a stoppage. All players wore shirts stating „Black Lives Matter.“
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — All players, coaches and the three referees taking part in the game between the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday knelt along the sideline in front of the team benches — with the players wearing shirts that had „Black Lives Matter“ written on the front as they stood behind the words „Black Lives Matter“ on the court — as the national anthem played before the opening game of the NBA restart inside the bubble at the Walt Disney World Resort.
The only noise inside the HP Field House was the anthem itself, as musician Jon Batiste played the national anthem on guitar and piano, shown on a video board with an image of the American flag ribboned around it. None of the people aligned along the baseline — in three rows stretching from one end of the court to the other — moved.
„I respect our teams‘ unified act of peaceful protest for social justice and under these unique circumstances will not enforce our long-standing rule requiring standing during the playing of our national anthem,“ NBA commissioner Adam Silver said in a statement to ESPN.
At least one player, Utah Jazz guard Rayjon Tucker, had his right elbow bent and fist raised during the anthem.
Michele Roberts, the National Basketball Players Association’s executive director, appeared to wipe away tears. She later tweeted: „Tonight we witnessed sober, powerfully moving and heartfelt demonstrations by our players of their commitment to the pursuit of justice. Very proud.“
Silver and LA Clippers owner Steve Ballmer — wearing a Clippers mask — also were in attendance.
The players and coaches were joined by the three referees working Thursday night’s game, a 106-104 win for the Jazz: Zach Zarba, Michael Smith and James Williams.
New Orleans guard Jrue Holiday said the unity the teams showed pregame spoke volumes about basketball’s return as a whole.
„Just to be able to feel like we’re bringing people together,“ he said when asked what was going through his mind as he knelt during the anthem. „Two teams that were about to go out there on the court in battle, we can also come together and fight for something.
