The NBA’s Social Justice Dilemma: Do Sports Distract and Detract From Activism?

Ever since the NBA announced that it would return to action on July 31, debate has swirled around two central questions: Would the bubble be safe, and would the playoffs boost or distract from the national Black Lives Matter protest movement that erupted after George Floyd was murdered by Derek Chauvin and three other Minneapolis police offers on May 25? The first question has been answered in the affirmative twice now, but the latter remains very much unsettled.

We’re now several days into the NBA’s official restart, and thus far broad social justice concerns have been plenty visible. Players and coaches are addressing issues they care about via social media campaigns, Zoom and televised interviews, and symbolic gestures, most notably during the national anthem, when a vast majority of players and coaches have taken a knee. The NBA painted “Black Lives Matter” on its courts and, through talks with the player’s union, enabled social justice statements to be worn on the back of jerseys.