Pope Francis sought the meeting with the players, demonstrating their influence outside sportsNBPA
Pope Francis yesterday met with NBAers at the Vatican, "lauding them as 'champions' and saying he supported their work on social justice," according to Tim Reynolds of the AP. The five players -- Spurs G Marco Belinelli, Rockets G Sterling Brown, Magic F Jonathan Isaac, Bucks G Kyle Korver and Grizzlies F Anthony Tolliver -- "were joined in the delegation" by NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts, NBPA Foundation Exec Dir Sherrie Deans and NBPA Chief of Int'l Relations Matteo Zuretti. The union said the players spoke about their "individual and collective efforts addressing social and economic injustice and inequality occurring in their communities.” Belinelli "addressed the pope in Italian, and the group presented the pope with a commemorative basketball, a union-produced book highlighting efforts players have taken" and a Magic jersey. Belinelli said the pope told the players they "need to continue to be united, to operate as brothers, like a team, and to set an example for the younger generations. The key is to remain humble. I will never forget this experience.” Roberts said that Pope Francis "sought the meeting with the players, and that it 'demonstrates the influence of their platforms'" (AP, 11/23).
VERY SPECIAL OCCASION: In N.Y., Jonathan Abrams noted after the 30-minute meeting, players and officials "still appeared stunned as they talked about it on video calls with reporters." The meeting "provided an opportunity to expand global awareness of the efforts to promote social justice." More players had "expressed interest in making the trip but could not because of the complications of travel in the pandemic and the holiday week" (N.Y. TIMES, 11/24). In DC, Chico Harlan notes the five players who attended the meeting have been "vocal on such matters as White privilege and police violence, offers a glimpse into what aspects of U.S. society the pontiff thinks are most important." The meeting also "shows the reach of sports activism in the United States," because while the pope regularly hosts bishops, educators and charitable workers, it is "far less common for him to sit down with athletes" (WASHINGTON POST, 11/24).
