Silver: 'I respect peaceful protest,' unsure of anthem plans

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Wednesday he doesn't know what to expect in terms of player protests when games resume Thursday, but reiterated the league has a longstanding rule surrounding national anthems.

"The NBA has had a rule on its books that preceded (former commissioner) David Stern, which was standing for the national anthem," Silver told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts.

"Having said that, I respect peaceful protest. I'm not sure what our players will do when they come out tomorrow night, and we'll of course address it at the time, but I also understand these are highly unusual times."

Reports Tuesday suggested the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans - the two teams tipping off the league's restart - have discussed kneeling in unison during the national anthem. During the WNBA's restart on Saturday, players from two teams walked off the floor during the anthem.

The last high-profile incident of an NBA player disciplined for refusing to stand for the anthem was Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in 1996.