Butler would be the only Heat player without a social justice message on his jerseyNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Heat G Jimmy Butler will be "one of the few players without a social justice message on the back of his jersey" when the NBA restarts, but he is "hoping he won't have to wear his last name on his jersey either," according to Anthony Chiang of the MIAMI HERALD. Butler said, "I love and respect all the messages that the league did choose." But he explained, "For me, I felt like with no message, with no name, it’s going back to who I was. ... I’m no different than anybody else of color. I want that to be my message in the sense that just because I’m an NBA player, everybody has the same right no matter what." Chiang reports Butler is "still waiting for NBA approval," and he would be the "only Heat player who will not wear a social justice message on his jersey for the restart." Butler: "I’m with Black Lives Matter and all the phrases that they chose to put on the back of the jersey. But for me, it’s a lot more about action and continuing to learn and teach the people around me and doing what I can in my community” (MIAMI HERALD, 7/15).
DESIRE TO HONOR TRAYVON MARTIN: In L.A., Tania Ganguli notes while a majority of players around the league have "chosen to use one of the 29 approved slogans," a "handful of players, including several stars, have chosen not to use" a league- and NBPA-approved message. Rockets G Austin Rivers -- who grew up in the Orlando area -- "felt connected to the story of Trayvon Martin." But he said, "I’m gonna use my name. I wasn’t able to put Trayvon. I do like some of the messages that they have. I’m very happy some of the players are using that but I wanted to go a different route.” Ganguli notes Rockets C Tyson Chandler "made the same decision." Chandler said putting Martin’s name on his jersey "would be a powerful statement" that would "remind people of lives that are cut short." But he concluded, "That wasn’t one of the ones, though, so I’m going to keep my name on the back" (L.A. TIMES, 7/15).
AT A CROSSROADS: In California, Kyle Goon notes while some players "felt the approved messages verged on impersonal, they were generally pleased with the way the NBA has allowed them to express themselves at what many deem a potential crossroads about how race is discussed and seen in America." The NBA has "actively encouraged players and staff to educate themselves on social justice matters, particularly on the issue of race." An NBA app includes a "list of books, music, movies, podcasts, organizations and even speeches cultivated by the NBA Black employee resource team that largely references the struggles of Black Americans" (ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, 7/15).
