#NBA plans to let players have social justice messages on jerseys

NBA players could have social justice statements on their jerseys when the season resumes on July 30 in Orlando, Fla.

The league and the NBA Basketball Players Association are in discussions to let players wear a social statement on the back of their jerseys in place of their last name, according to an ESPN report on Saturday night.

Players received a group text message that illustrated the early plans that are being discussed between the NBA, the players union and Nike, saying “look out for details in the coming days.”

The NBA wouldn’t be the first professional sports league to allow social justice statements to be displayed on jerseys.

After the Premier League in England resumed after the coronavirus pandemic lockdown earlier this month, it replaced player names on the back of jerseys with the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” Jerseys also will feature a sleeve patch for the rest of the season.

The league, which released its schedule on Friday, will highlight Zion Williamson and LeBron James in the first two games. Williamson’s New Orleans Pelicans will face the Utah Jazz in the first game and James’ Lakers will battle Kawhi Leonard and the Clippers in the nightcap.

The Nets (30-34), who currently hold a half-game lead for the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference, will resume play on July 31 with their first of two remaining against the eighth-place Magic (30-35).