The NBA has begun preseason play and the league's players have joined together in making statements as the national anthem is played before games.
National anthem protests have made national headlines since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick started it during the NFL preseason. Kaepernick began the protest because of racial and social injustice and police brutality.
The Houston Rockets, Boston Celtics, New York Knicks, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Lakers and the Portland Trail Blazers joined the movement by interlocking arms, joining hands and throwing their arms over the shoulders over one another before their games this week.
A message from our players on #unity. pic.twitter.com/enT6DALs1b
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 4, 2016
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— Houston Rockets (@HoustonRockets) October 5, 2016
For those interested the Kings locked arms during the National Anthem. #sackings pic.twitter.com/W1g5hIiZi5
— Jim Mathison (@JimMathison) October 5, 2016
Blazers players stood in a circle with their arms around each other during the national anthem pic.twitter.com/c2JoXNVnQX
— Mike Richman (@mikegrich) October 2, 2016
The @celtics lock arms in a sign of unity during tonight's National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/ssT9YKkjRx
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) October 4, 2016
Wizards players lock arms during anthem pic.twitter.com/nvcEjyLE3y
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) October 4, 2016
Players from the Knicks & Rockets stood together during the singing of the national anthem before their preseason game. pic.twitter.com/BjNBmsNyWD
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 5, 2016
Rockets guard James Harden said the move represented “a brotherhood” and that the message they are trying to send is about unity.
"Just standing together for something that we believe in; obviously we know what's going on around the world," Harden said. "We wanted to use our high power and noticeability to just go out there and make it aware that we're going to stand together, not just the two teams, but the entire league. We want to use our platform to show people that we're together and we're behind them in this. ... It's something that we'll continue to do, and we have a platform and we want to use it. It's just the beginning."
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