Michelle Obama brings message to players

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – He may have been in the locker room preparing for a game, but Trail Blazers guard C.J. McCollum found time to sneak in a phone call. It was rather important.

Former first lady Michelle Obama spoke to a handful of NBA and WNBA players Sunday afternoon about how they can use their platform to address racial justice issues.

McCollum, a member on the NBA players union’s executive board, made sure to be a participant. Consider it one of many ways McCollum wanted his voice to be heard.

“It was more so just educational purposes and being able to ask questions about the importance of voting and how we can continue to empower our brothers and sisters to vote and what that means not only on the national level, but on the state and local level,” McCollum said.

Thunder guard Chris Paul, the president of the NBPA, said that players agreed to spend $300 million toward social justice issues. Paul considered that important to show their efforts would go beyond social justice messages on the back of their jerseys.

For example, Paul, Trail Blazers forward Carmelo Anthony and former NBA star Dwyane Wade launched the Social Change Fund, which will invest and support organizations “that advocate for communities of color through longterm policy solutions, community representation, and narrative change.”

Though Anthony could not get on Sunday’s call because he was getting ready for Sunday’s scrimmage against Toronto, he said, “We need more of those conversations from Michelle to get on the phone and emphasize the importance of what it means to vote and how she is into voting. We support her a thousand percent.

“I’m already using my platform. The only thing I can continue do is to keep doing and using my voice and keeping those conversations alive. We go from there. We’re not going to be quiet. I can tell you that, though. We’re going to continue to bring awareness to issues that we’re all facing that is at hand.”

Anthony has no plans, however, to protest during the national anthem during the season restart. Other players might, though McCollum said the NBPA still has not determined what action to take.