NBA has historically been outspoken on social injustice, such as in '14 after the death of Eric GarnerNBAE/getty images
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said the league “ultimately may be in a position to have more of a impact" on the issue of racism in America "than any other organization in the world.” Silver, appearing on TNT's "Inside the NBA" on Thursday, noted he met recently with NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts and told her: "Let’s collectively put our heads together." Silver: "Michele was the first to say, ‘This can't be more of the same. This isn’t about another joint statement from the league and it’s players. This is a moment in time.'" Silver said the first hour of the league's BOG meeting this week was spent “talking about these issues and why people got involved in the NBA and how we again can uniquely potentially have an impact on these issues.” Silver: “We’re not a political organization, but we’re an organization steeped in values, things I have talked about many times that go way back before me" (“Inside the NBA,” TNT, 6/4)
SURPRISING SILENCE: In Chicago, Madeline Kenney writes WNBA players have been "outspoken about racial injustices on social media over the last two weeks, but one important voice that had been missing publicly" until Thursday was WNBA Commissioner Cathy Engelbert. All 12 teams had released statements or videos "condemning racism and police brutality in light of the death of George Floyd," but Engelbert, who "listened and talked to players in private over the last week, didn’t give a public statement until Thursday, when she announced the league would donate proceeds from its 'Bigger than ball' merchandise to groups working against racial inequities." Before that, a league that "prides itself on being diverse and inclusive, had remained relatively quiet, with the exception of one short and vague statement." The WNBA in a May 29 tweet wrote, “The time for change is now. Enough is enough." Chicago Sky G Diamond DeShields on the league's slow response said, “You can’t tip-toe around it, like, it’s frustrating. It’s beyond frustration." The WNBA this week also held a "virtual town hall with players," giving them an "opportunity to share their thoughts on systemic racism and the Floyd protests" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/5).
