Russell Westbrook, NBPA to Design Social Justice Shirts in Orlando

Rockets guard Russell Westbrook will partner with the NBA Players Association to design social justice shirts for players to wear in Orlando, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The shirts will incorporate a slate of messages that are not allowed on the backs of jerseys during the NBA restart, per Charania. Some of the messages allowed on shirts in Orlando are listed below.

Systemic Racism
Police Reform
I Can’t Breathe
No Justice No Peace
Break the Cycle
Strange Fruit
By Any Means
Power to the People
Equality
Am I Next?

The NBA announced on June 28 it would allow players to replace their last name on the backs of jerseys with statements supporting social justice. The decision drew a wave of support throughout the league, though some players noted their frustration with the list of available phrases presented by the NBA. Both Austin Rivers and Robert Covington had hoped to write "Trayvon" on their jerseys in honor of slain Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, but that option was denied by the NBA.

"I appreciate the NBA giving us an opportunity to change our last names on our jerseys. Small things like this can matter and go a long way," Rivers wrote on Instagram in July. "But the options are really limited. I'm from Orlando, Fla., 25 minutes away from where Trayvon Martin was innocently shot and murdered. To this day that anger and pain from that senseless hate crime still resonates in our country. But especially here in Orlando."

Austin Rivers wants Trayvon Martin’s name on the back of his jersey in Orlando ✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽 pic.twitter.com/TqKxmFh58N
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) July 7, 2020

Westbrook has been active on the social justice front during the NBA's COVID-19 hiatus. He raised money for the Mayor's Fund for Los Angeles in March, and he donated 650 laptops to Houston students in April. Westbrook spoke at the Compton Peace Walk on June 8 following the death of George Floyd, two weeks before he appeared virtually at a Juneteenth celebration in Tulsa.

Houston's star point guard has not joined the team in Orlando as of Sunday afternoon. Westbrook announced on Monday he tested positive for COVID-19, though he is "getting closer" to arriving at the NBA bubble, per Rockets head coach Mike D'Antoni.

Houston will hold its first scrimmage in Orlando on June 24. The Rockets will resume their regular season on July 31 as they face Luka Doncic and the Mavericks.