Kobe Bryant and nearly all of his Los Angeles Lakers teammates became the latest NBA players to wear T-shirts with the words “I Can’t Breathe” in a silent show of solidarity with those protesting the police-involved killing of Eric Garner.
Garner died on July 17 in Staten Island, New York after a police officer, flanked by several other officers, placed him in a choke-hold while arresting him. Cell phone footage of Garner’s arrest showed him saying “I can’t breathe” during the fatal encounter. Thousands of people across the U.S. have turned to protests after a grand jury decided not to indict the officer on December 3rd.
Every Lakers player with the exception of backup center Robert Sacre wore the shirts during their pre-game warm-ups before a win against the Sacramento Kings on Tuesday night in Los Angeles.
“I think it’s us supporting that movement and supporting each other as well as athletes,” Bryant told reporters after the game. “I think the beauty of our country lies in its democracy. I think if we ever lose the courage to be able to speak up for the things that we believe in, I think we really lose the value that our country stands for.”
Lakers forward Carlos Boozer hinted at the move when he posted a picture to his Instagram from the locker room shortly before the Lakers began warming up.
The Lakers players join the likes of notable NBA players such as Derrick Rose, LeBron James, and Kyrie Irving in donning the shirts during pre-game warm-ups in response to the grand jury decision. Rose was the first player to do so, wearing the shirt during warm-ups before a game against the Golden State Warriors on Dec. 6th.
Several players from the Brooklyn Nets also wore the shirts before their game against James, Irving, and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Brooklyn on Monday. NBA commissioner Adam Silver was in attendance for the high-profile game, which also included Prince Harry and Duchess Kate Middleton sitting courtside next to Jay-Z and Beyonce. The match-up was the first NBA game ever attended by the royal couple.
Rose later explained his actions on Monday afternoon, attributing most of it to the fact that he has a two-year-old son. “I’m a parent now.” Rose said. “Probably two years ago, it probably would have been different. I probably would not have worn the shirt. But now I’m a dad, it just changed my outlook on life, period. I don’t want my son growing up being scared of the police or even having that thought on his mind that something like that could happen.”
Chicago Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau was quick to defend his player’s actions.
“I think he has something to say,” Thibodeau said. “I think it’s a great message. It’s about equality and justice for everybody. I think you guys know the type of person Derrick is.”
In an email to Yahoo Sports on this past Monday night, Silver stated that while he is okay with social commentary, it should not include player’s league uniforms.
“I respect Derrick Rose and all of our players for voicing their personal views on important issues, but my preference would be for players to abide by our on-court attire rules,” Silver wrote.
Silver’s response is a cautious one indeed. Rather than condemning or outright demanding that players cease such actions, he merely stated that he preferred them not wear them. Not as a manner of censoring free speech, but as an appeal to abide by league attire rules. As of right now, no fines or punishments have been levied out to any players or teams. If the trend grows and more NBA teams decide to join in on wearing similar shirts, Silver will have a difficult choice to make in handling what is essentially a basic uniform rules violation.
NBA players are required to wear Adidas apparel, who provides the league’s official attire.
It will be interesting to see in the coming days whether or not the shirts develop into a league-wide trend. If they do, Silver will be faced with the decision of either enforcing the rules he was put in the position to uphold, or simply looking the other way and giving his players free reign to ignore league statutes while exercising their free speech.
Given the extreme sensitivity of the subject, the general public’s overwhelming disagreement with the grand jury decision, and Silver’s own mild rebuke of the actions, expect him to stand by idly until the situation plays itself out.
