Report: NBA, union agree to list of social justice statements for jerseys
The NBA and NBPA have agreed on a list of social justice messages that can be displayed above the number on the back of jerseys when the league resumes play later this month, a source told The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears.
The list of the approved terms reportedly includes: Black Lives Matter; Say Their Names; Vote; I Can't Breathe; Justice; Peace; Equality; Freedom; Enough; Power to the People; Justice Now; Say Her Name; Si Se Puede (Yes We Can); Liberation; See Us; Hear Us; Respect Us; Love Us; Listen; Listen to Us; Stand Up; Ally; Anti-Racist; I Am a Man; Speak Up; How Many More; Group Economics; Education Reform; and Mentor.
Players will be able to note a first and second choice, but they're not obligated to show a social message. After the first four nights of the restart, a player can opt to display a message on the back of his jersey with his last name underneath, according to Spears.
It was first reported last week that the league and the NBPA were working toward allowing social messages following the deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. It was reportedly unlikely that the names of those who have died while in police custody would be permitted.
NBA teams issued warmup shirts in 2014 that read "I Can't Breathe" after Eric Garner's death while in the New York Police Department's custody.