Doc Rivers and Carmelo Anthony are among the players, owners and coaches that will help lead the NBA's newly formed Social Justice Coalition.
The newly formed coalition will be split into the following three tiers: governors, players and coaches. Micky Arison, Steve Ballmer, Clay Bennett, Marc Lasry and Vivek Randadive will make up the coalition's governor tier. Then, Carmelo Anthony, Avery Bradley, Sterling Brown, Donovan Mitchell and Karl-Anthony Towns will make up the organization's player tier. Lastly, Lloyd Pierce and Doc Rivers will comprise the coalition's coach tier.
The NBA Social Justice Coalition was created in response to the Milwaukee Bucks led work stoppage that took place during the 2020 NBA Playoffs. Following the shooting of Jacob Blake Jr., several Bucks players decided to sit out the fifth game of their first round playoff series. The Orlando Magic, Houston Rockets and a number of other teams elected not to play as well. Joining the NBA, the NHL, MLB and other professional leagues cancelled their games as well.
"The past four months have shed a light on the ongoing racial injustices facing our African-American communities. Citizens around the country have used their voices and platforms to speak out against these wrongdoings," members of the Milwaukee Bucks said on the day of their protest.
"Over the last few days in our home state of Wisconsin, we've seen the horrendous video of Jacob Blake being shot in the back seven times by a police officer in Kenosha, and the additional shooting of protestors. Despite the overwhelming plea for change, there has been no action, so our focus today cannot be on basketball."
Created in response to the player led protest, the coalition will work to "advance equality and social justice." There is no word as to what the coalition's first moves will be.
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