Gregg Popovich Team USA
Photo: FIBA.Basketball

The NBCA described the recent events of police brutality and racial inequality as “shameful, inhumane and intolerable” in its press release earlier today (1/6).

As a result, the National Basketball Coaches Association has established a commitee in order to find solutions against racial injustice within the cities, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.

As the ESPN’s reporter wrote:

“Gregg Popovich, Steve Kerr, Lloyd Pierce, David Fizdale and Stan Van Gundy — some of the profession’s most thoughtful and consistent voices on social issues in the sport — were among the coaches selected to a committee that helped craft a forcefully worded denouncement of the George Floyd killing in Minneapolis and the greater pattern of violence and intolerance toward African Americans in the United States.

In part of a press release of the Association, the NBA coaches called in immediate action on the matter as “a diverse group of leaders, who lead groups of men, most of whom are African-American”.

The NBCA Statement:

“As NBA coaches — both head and assistant coaches — we lead groups of men, most of whom are African American, and we see, hear and share their feelings of disgust, frustration, helplessness and anger. The events of the past few weeks — police brutality, racial profiling and the weaponization of racism — are shameful, inhumane and intolerable.

“As a diverse group of leaders, we have a responsibility to stand up and speak out for those who don’t have a voice — and to stand up and speak out for those who don’t feel it is safe to do so.

“Witnessing the murder of George Floyd in cold blood and in broad daylight has traumatized our nation, but the reality is that African Americans are targeted and victimized on a daily basis. As NBA coaches, we cannot treat this as an isolated incident of outrage.

“We are committed to working in our NBA cities with local leaders, officials and law enforcement agencies to create positive change in our communities. We have the power and platform to affect change, and we will use it.”