Jazz & Pelicans Players Kneel During National Anthem

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Both teams showed some solidarity ahead of the first game in the NBA bubble.

Tonight is a huge one for the NBA as it marks the official return of the NBA season. It took four months to get to this point but we're finally here. Now, 22 teams are competing for an NBA title and in just a couple of weeks, six teams will be going home as they are ousted from the playoff picture. There are two games scheduled for tonight including a highly-anticipated match-up between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Los Angeles Clippers. The other match is going on right now and it's between the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans.

Prior to tip-off, both teams stood together and wore Black Lives Matter jerseys while kneeling for the anthem. It was a great moment of solidarity between both teams and it showcased the unity going on right now in the midst of the virus as well as social justice efforts.

NBA players are going to great lengths to get their message across, including social justice phrases on the backs of their jerseys. In the tweet below, you can even see an example of some of these messages in action.

Needless to say, players throughout the league are eager to continue the social justice fight well into the playoffs.


About The Author
Alexander Cole is the current editor-in-chief of HotNewHipHop. He started at HotNewHipHop back in 2018 where he began as a Sports and Sneakers writer. It was here where he began to hone his craft, putting his journalism degree from Concordia University in Montreal, Quebec, to good use. Since that time, he has documented some of the biggest stories in the hip-hop world. From the Kendrick Lamar and Drake beef to the disturbing allegations against Diddy, Alex has helped HotNewHipHop navigate large-scale stories as they happen. In 2021, he went to the Bahamas for the Big 3's Championship Game. It was here where he got to interview legendary figures like Ice Cube, Clyde Drexler, and Stephen Jackson. He has also interviewed other superstar athletes such as Antonio Brown, Damian Lillard, and Paul Pierce. This is in addition to conversations with social media provocateurs like Jake Paul, and younger respected artists like Kaycyy, Lil Tecca, and Jeleel!
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