Popovich has often defended former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality and criticized President Donald Trump for his racially divisive rhetoric.
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla — The accomplished NBA coach has forcefully spoken out on systemic racism both through words and action. But despite the majority of NBA players and coaches kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial inequality, San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich stood before the Kings-Spurs games on Saturday. Spurs assistant coach Becky Hammon also stood.
Beforehand, Popovich had said that each player and coach should decide what they should do during the anthem. In an NBA recorded PSA, however, Popovich stressed the importance for the country at large to continue its protests and efforts to fight racial inequality. Popovich has often defended former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick for kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality and racial inequality.
Portland Trail Blazers big man Jusuf Nurkic made his triumphant return to the court 16 months after suffering a gruesome broken leg but later said he played with a heavy heart. After the Blazers' win, Nurkic revealed his grandmother is in a coma in Bosnia after contracting COVID-19. He made an emotional plea for people to treat the pandemic seriously:"Please take care of yourself. Wear a damn mask.
"The excuse was I was late on the charge," Smart said afterwards."The replay center said I was late and it was a block. Quite frankly, I think we all know what that was about. Giannis has six fouls. They didn't want to get him out. Let's just call a spade a spade. That's just what it is."
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