NBA and players form social justice coalition
Black Lives Matter is displayed near the NBA logo in an empty basketball arena Friday, Aug. 28, 2020, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. The NBA playoffs will resume Saturday after the league and the National Basketball Players Association detailed the commitments that made players comfortable continuing the postseason. In a joint statement released Friday, the sides say they will immediately establish a social justice coalition, made up of players, coaches and owners, that would focus on issues such as voting access and advocating for meaningful police and criminal justice reform. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, Pool)
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NEW YORK CITY (REUTERS) — The NBA and its players association on Friday introduced the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, a group of executives, coaches and players that will lead efforts to advance equality and social justice.
The organization said its mission is to enact change in several areas, including criminal justice reform and access to voting.
The coalition will be led by a board of 15 members. Commissioner Adam Silver, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, and Michele Roberts, executive director of the National Basketball Players Association, will be joined by five team governors, five players and two coaches.
The NBA governors on the inaugural coalition are: Micky Arison, Miami Heat; Steve Ballmer, Los Angeles Clippers; Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City Thunder; Marc Lasry, Milwaukee Bucks; and Vivek Ranadive, Sacramento Kings.
The players are: Carmelo Anthony, Portland Trail Blazers; Avery Bradley, Los Angeles Lakers; Sterling Brown, Bucks; Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz; and Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves.
Representing the coaches are Lloyd Pierce of the Atlanta Hawks and Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers.