5 players appointed to NBA Foundation, Social Justice Coalition

The National Basketball Players Association has appointed a total of five players to two committees focused on social justice action, NBPA director Michele Roberts told The Athletic's Shams Charania.

The Utah Jazz's Donovan Mitchell, the Portland Trail Blazers' Carmelo Anthony, and the Milwaukee Bucks' Sterling Brown were appointed to the Social Justice Coalition, while the Sacramento Kings' Harrison Barnes and the Philadelphia 76ers' Tobias Harris have been appointed to the NBA Foundation.

"These are guys who have, on their own, been very engaged in their communities and being part of the discussion," Roberts told Charania. "They're not simply guys that talk the talk. They actually roll up their sleeves and do the work."

Both committees were instituted this summer in response to the ongoing social justice movement in the United States.

The NBA Foundation's mission is to "drive economic empowerment for Black communities through employment and career advancement," per the NBPA's Aug. 5 release. Each team will give $1 million annually to the charity for 10 years for a total contribution of $300 million.

The Social Justice Coalition was formed following the shooting of Jacob Blake by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, in late August. The group will be comprised of players, coaches, and team governors, and will be focused on issues including "increasing access to voting, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for meaningful police and criminal justice reform," according to the NBPA.