King Jr. holiday special in league
Officially, NBA players began participating in games that were scheduled to celebrate and honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1986 when the federal holiday commemorating the civil-rights leader was observed for the first time.
Oscar Robertson knows the tradition dates back long before that.
King was shot and killed while standing on a balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tenn., on April 4, 1968. A day later, Robertson began planning a benefit game in King’s memory — and on Aug. 15 of that year, on an outdoor court in New York, he was among 27 NBA players who wound up taking part.
Among those on the court that night: Wilt Chamberlain, Lenny Wilkens, Dave Bing, Dave DeBusschere, Willis Reed, Walt Bellamy and many others.
“What happened years ago with Dr. King is still part of our social fiber,” the 83-yearold Robertson said.
The annual reminder of that comes Monday, on the annual celebration of the King holiday. The NBA has scheduled 12 games — including the traditional home games in King’s birthplace of Atlanta and in Memphis, where he was killed at 39.
Memphis plays host to Chicago in a matchup of two of the league’s biggest surprises so far this season, while Atlanta will host reigning NBA champion Milwaukee. And Robertson believes it’s critical players in this generation are reminded of what those who preceded them in the game had to endure as the NBA celebrates its 75th anniversary.
Nets
Kevin Durant has a sprained medial collateral ligament of his left knee, sidelining the NBA’s leading scorer just as Brooklyn was poised to finally have a lengthy run with their Big Three.
Durant was injured Saturday in a victory over New Orleans when teammate Bruce Brown was knocked backward and fell into his knee.
Durant had an MRI exam Sunday that confirmed the injury.
The Nets did not provide a timetable for his return.