Lakers star LeBron James says he will not have a social justice message on the back of his jersey when the league resumes July 30. Said James: « Just something that didn’t seriously resonate with my mission, with my goal. »
The NBA is back, and the back of LeBron James’ jersey will still look the same.
The Los Angeles Lakers’ star on Saturday said he’ll be one of the few NBA players who will forgo a social justice message on the back of his jersey when the season resumes in Orlando, Florida.
« I actually didn’t go with a name on the back of my jersey, » James said on a video conference call with reporters. « It was no disrespect to the list that was handed out to all the players. I commend anyone that decides to put something on the back of their jersey. It’s just something that didn’t really seriously resonate with my mission, with my goal.
« I would have loved to have a say-so on what would have went on the back of my jersey. I had a couple things in mind, but I wasn’t part of that process, which is OK. I’m absolutely OK with that…. I don’t need to have something on the back of my jersey for people to understand my mission or know what I’m about and what I’m here to do. »
As of Wednesday afternoon,285 of the expected 350 eligible NBA players had picked a social justice message to put on their jerseys, while 17 had opted to continue to use their names instead, National Basketball Players’ Association executive director Michele Roberts told ESPN’s The Undefeated earlier this week.
The list of the suggested messages that were agreed on by the NBPA and the NBA and then made available to players via email, per the source, are: Black Lives Matter; Say Their Names; Vote; I Can’t Breathe; Justice; Peace; Equality; Freedom; Enough; Power to the People; Justice Now; Say Her Name; Sí Se Puede (Yes We Can); Liberation; See Us; Hear Us; Respect Us; Love Us; Listen; Listen to Us; Stand Up; Ally; Anti-Racist; I Am A Man; Speak Up; How Many More; Group Economics; Education Reform; and Mentor.
