Adam Silver hopes players stand for national anthem: ‘That is the appropriate thing to do’
NBA commissioner Adam Silver hopes players continue to stand for the playing of the national anthem because it’s the “appropriate thing to do,” he said at the league’s board of governors meeting in New York on Friday.
“I don’t know if the players are organizing anything,” Silver said, according to ESPN. “All I can say is what we have seen in multiple preseason games so far is our players standing for the national anthem. It would be my hope that they continue to stand for the national anthem. I think that is the appropriate thing to do.”
49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick sparked a nationwide movement by not standing for the anthem during preseason games to voice concerns over racial inequality and police brutality. According to a recent report, he asked Knicks star Carmelo Anthony, who has also advocated protest against racial injustice, for advice before beginning the protest.
Anthony has also publicly spoken out on race, police violence and community involvement, joining NBA stars LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Paul on stage at this year’s ESPYs in a speech calling for change.
The NBA season will begin on Tuesday night when Anthony’s Knicks face the Cavaliers at 7:30 p.m. ET in Cleveland.
– Kenny Ducey
