Russell Westbrook favored the NBA stopping play, but also said that there is value to the games continuingNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Rockets G Russell Westbrook said he was “very involved” in the talks that led to the NBA’s return last week, indicating the goals will need time to be achieved and “the desire is follow-through," according to Jonathan Feigen of the HOUSTON CHRONICLE. Westbrook explained, "A lot of demands, a lot of different things we wanted as players were heard. The owners heard us. It was more a collective agreement that we come together and find what’s most important now, and that’s taking care of voting and making sure we have arenas and an opportunity for guys and their families and people ... to go vote." He continued, "Secondly, find a way to hold our cops accountable for their actions. There’s different ways to do that and the owners were in agreement. That’s the most important part. The next part is just to follow through and just hold them accountable to the things that we talked about." Westbrook "strongly favored the idea of the NBA stopping play for three days." But he said that there is "value to the games continuing." That just "needed to come with the ability to take a stand and be heard" (HOUSTON CHRONICLE, 9/1).
PLAYERS PLAYING THEIR PART: In Phoenix, Duane Rankin writes NBA players collectively "can't stop voicing their displeasure over the state of this country -- and will continue to do what they can to make a difference." They "have the NBA's attention," and the "spotlight is on them." Rankin: "What they do with it from this point forward will greatly determine if this was just a moment in time or a game changer that ignites a transformation on how we address what ills us as a nation moving forward." Right now, the players are "in a position of power that goes beyond basketball." They "know the NBA and its owners must take heed to what they say -- or else." Still, this "puts even more pressure on the players to do their part in this movement" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 9/1).
