Nets' Temple: Playing in NBA helps black people bridge economic gap

Brooklyn Nets guard Garrett Temple believes that competing in the NBA's return and earning a paycheck will help black people in the fight against systemic oppression.

"The difference in the economic gap between white America and black America is astronomical," Temple told ESPN's Malika Andrews. "I can't in good conscience tell my brethren to throw away millions of dollars in order to create change that I don't see the direct impact of - if there was a direct impact of laws changing, that would be a different story."

Temple, who serves as the vice president of the players' association, acknowledged his position among black people who earn millions of dollars annually.

Though he supports the numerous NBA players protesting in the wake of George Floyd's death, Temple views the sport's return as an opportunity to gather and have meaningful dialogue.

"One reason for us to go to Orlando is while we're there, we can talk amongst each other and maybe come up with a plan, maybe come up with some type of action," Temple said. "We need to come together and come up with something. The attention is going to be on us when we're in that bubble. I know we can think of something that does not hurt the pockets of our young black men.

"At the end of the day, money isn't everything, but it helps. And we need it in our community now more than ever. The economic gap is too wide."