What NBA Players can do to support BLM instead of boycotting the playoffs
NBA players have a unique opportunity to use their notoriety to bring attention to the BLM movement — and they should use it
NBA players have been among the most vocal professional athletes regarding the Black Lives Matter movement. Even as the allure of supporting BLM on mainstream media slowed, their efforts have not.
“Black Lives Matter” is pasted in block letters across the playoff basketball courts. Players are given the choice of choosing between 29 slogans including “Black Lives Matter”, “Justice”, “Anti-racist” and “I can’t breathe” to replace the last name on their jerseys. From making public statements to kneeling during nation anthems, NBA players and organizations have continued to show their support.
Suddenly, earlier this week, the Boston police shooting of Jacob Blake has caused #BlackLivesMatter to headline mainstream media once again.
The response? NBA players have announced they may boycott the NBA 2020 Playoffs.
That’s right. In fact, the LA Lakers and LA Clippers (That’s right — the NBA’s prized and popular teams featuring Lebron James and Kawai Leonard themselves) both initially voted to boycott the remained of the NBA playoffs.
While this is undoubtedly a strong statement of solidarity, NBA players have a unique opportunity to use their notoriety to bring attention to the BLM movement — and boycotting may not be the best option.
The Advantages of Boycotting
While a boycott can happen for many reasons, two points usually prevail
- Widespread Media Attention
- Public Solidarity against whatever is being boycotted
Boycotting the NBA playoffs will definitely draw an insane amount of media coverage — in fact even the current speculations are grabbing headlines. The message that “we are not playing because will not stand for this treatment anyone” will no doubt be heard loud and clear around the world. Boycotting the league will tell the world that BLM is more important than basketball and entertainment.
However, this NBA boycott differs from the norm, because players aren’t standing against the NBA. Rather they are trying to fight society itself. The NBA playoffs are simply the outlet of action.
Point being: The power of the NBA playoff boycott is their ability to draw public attention.
However, the NBA playoffs already have that power. With the right actions, the players and the league have the power to do so much more than a one-time burst of media coverage
Use the NBA popularity to draw more BLM Media Coverage
While an NBA boycott would lead to immediate widespread media coverage, here’s the thing: the NBA playoffs already have huge media coverage. Always. It’s one of the most popular sports in America. Without fail, the NBA playoffs with make headlines on national and local news, even without additional intervention
Playoffs game coverage can another 2+ months of BLM media attention
While an NBA boycott may cause BLM to be at the forefront of media attention after the initial announcement, the reality is that people will forget.
Even though there have been protests happening across the country since the initial BLM protests began, the reality is that widespread media coverage stopped within the first two weeks after George Floyd’s death. Attention is high right now due to the Boston shooting, but the media’s attention will likely soon shift.
NBA players can change that.
People may notice a passing statement two months from now that “the NBA championships should’ve been today.” But even more people will notice if Lebron James supports BLM during every pre-game interview and Giannis (or whichever team star you support) calls for action during his championship games.
Instead of just making headlines now, NBA players have the power to take advantage of playoff game coverage to create headlines supporting the movement for weeks to come.
NBA Players can voice BLM support throughout the playoffs
Instead of boycotting the playoffs, the players should take the opporunity to use the playoff media to bring awareness to the BLM movement.
Force the NBA to air BLM commercials during high profile games. Demand action during player interviews.
Force your sports audience to pay attention, even if they don’t want to.
At the end of the day, the BLM movement is all about making sure voices are heard. NBA playoff coverage already puts player voices on the front page. This is the opportunity to do more. To do better.
NBA players can directly help black communities by donating salaries
Many basketball players fall within the black demographic. However, as professional basketball players, none fall into the low socio-economic class that a lot of the American black population find themselves in.
NBA players are getting paid millions to compete in the playoffs. Instead of taking a salary cut by boycotting the playoffs, they could take that revenue and pour it back in the black community.
If NBA players even donated half of their salaries to BLM-focused organizations, that would put extra millions of dollars into the cause. Obviously many NBA players have donated to causes close to their heart already, but NBA players made up to $30M a year. Imagine that times 30 teams at 25 players each — it would make an astronomical difference for black communities and youth.
Money doesn’t solve everything. Money doesn't change mindsets. But it can fund actions that can make a difference.
However, NBA players must commit to acting
If NBA players decide to boycott the league, I wholeheartedly will support it. If something is strong enough to shut down a multi-billion dollar league, proves it is important. You only have to look at the extreme drop-off in public support for the BLM movement to prove how few people truly realize how important the movement is.
I am not black, so I don’t think I am in a position where I can judge how empowering or powerful the NBA boycott may be. I support them making the decision to at least postpone gameplay, and I do not think I have the right to judge whether or not a boycott is the right decision for the black community.
That being said, I think NBA players can do more. They have the power of media on their side, and they should be taking advantage of it.
However, they need to be ready to commit to action. The only way any of these actions can be more effective than a boycott is if NBAs Players hold themselves accountable to making a difference even when there isn’t public pressure to act.
Two months from now, when the widespread media has forgotten about the Black Lives Matter movement, hopefully, NBA players will remind the public how important it is to speak up.
