Irving, Brown mull next move
Celtics embrace new climate
CANTON — Kyrie Irving smiled broadly yesterday while pondering how athletes have uncovered their political ire.
“I think the beautiful thing is that people are starting to wake up,” he said as the Celtics gathered for media day.
Where Colin Kaepernick once stood, or knelt, alone, athletes across American pro sports are now using their platform to speak out about social inequality and change. Cleveland’s LeBron James and Golden State’s Stephen Curry both have fired shots in a Twitter-fueled exchange with President Donald Trump, who won’t be visiting Warriors Nation anytime soon.
Trump, who said athletes should be fired if they kneel during the national anthem, has crossed a line, according to Jaylen Brown.
“The president’s made some comments and he came at players and teams in the White House, etc. — I think it’s unconstitutional to do that, to tell them they don’t have the right to speak on whatever they feel like their heart needs to be spoken on,” said Brown, 20, who’s entering his second season.
“I think basketball and athletes have a tremendous opportunity with our platform to do something about it.”
In Irving’s new home, there has also been talk of doing “something” to show solidarity.
Brown, who has become involved with the NBA Players Association, has talked with his Celtics teammates and management about possible measures.
“I reached out to everybody on the team (Sunday) and just said I think our voices are stronger together than individual,” said Brown, who is trying to take on a leadership role.
“I think we’ll open up a discussion about that and maybe do something as a team or just at least open up a dialogue about it,” he said. “The reality is there are problems in this country and they’re not going to be fixed overnight, so just opening up a discussion, keep raising awareness, and also having some type of action behind it. I talked to Danny Ainge (yesterday) and he’s all for that. And I respect him for that, just having some type of purpose, some type of action behind your message, have some type of resultbased actions that produce something.”
Brown relishes the current environment, with an increasing number of athletes taking a stand.
“I think athletes have a tremendous opportunity, or I think sports is highly influential,” he said. “I think what’s going on in football, with having the freedom to express their First Amendment right, I think that should be something that should be considered and understood.”
Brown also has his coach firmly in support.
“We as the Celtics organization support our guys and their right to take a stand and protest peacefully and promote positive change,” said coach Brad Stevens. “I knew all the great things about the NBA when I got into it, but I think I’ve been more pleasantly surprised by not only the leadership within the league, but just how all the players, they’re great leaders for young people in basketball. So, when I watch LeBron and watch Steph and listen to (Steve) Kerr, you’re proud to be a part of that.
“Ultimately, each of our players will choose that. We talk about that. We talk about trying to use, again, our platform to have positive discussion to talk about things like uniting. To talk all the time about, leaders unite and inspire people and misleaders divide. So ultimately, if we can be a team that uses that in a positive way, if we can be individuals that use that in a positive way, we can create a good message that unifies, you’re doing your small part with the platform you’re given.”
Irving said it’s important for players to know they can be heard.
“Whether that be kneeling or whatever the action is, as long as the individual knows the intent behind it, there is no black and white, there is no gray area between,” he said. “There is no figuring it out. It’s what’s right and it’s what’s right for our society as human beings. It’s not between the veterans and the military. When someone is kneeling at the national anthem, it’s much bigger than that. It’s a human being thing. Knowing that intent on fighting the inequalities of certain things you have a problem with, I think that is every person’s right to speak up and say what they feel on it, as long as it’s not the intent to create more and more division between people.”