The National Basketball Association got political during the 2020 George Floyd riots, placing “Black Lives Matter” messages on the court and allowing players to wear social justice messages on their jerseys. Multiple coaches and players spoke out, with Commissioner Adam Silver saying, “I spent the weekend watching the protests around the country over the deaths of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. As a league, we share the outrage and offer our sincere condolences to their families and friends.”
Many fans, however, weren’t all in on watching our cities burn in the name of social justice, and NBA viewership tanked. Although ratings have improved since then, they’re still way down from the league’s 1990s heyday.
But now their players’ association is thrusting itself into the national political conversation once again:
Statement from the NBPA and its Executive Committee on the Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis by ICE.
— NBPA (@TheNBPA) January 25, 2026
“There comes a time when silence is betrayal” -MLK pic.twitter.com/ka6CjhfHBb
They fully sided with the often-violent anti-law enforcement protesters:
FOLLOWING THE NEWS OF YET ANOTHER FATAL SHOOTING IN MINNEAPOLIS, A CITY THAT HAS BEEN ON THE FOREFRONT OF THE FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICES, NBA PLAYERS CAN NO LONGER REMAIN SILENT.
NOW MORE THAN EVER, WE MUST DEFEND THE RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND STAND IN SOLIDARITY WITH THE PEOPLE IN MINNESOTA PROTESTING AND RISKING THEIR LIVES TO DEMAND JUSTICE.
Did the NBA or the NBPA issue such statements about Jocelyn Nungaray or Laken Riley, who were both savagely murdered by illegal immigrants? I can’t find any. Did they speak about the Homeland Security agent whose finger was bitten off Saturday? No statements that I can find.
No messages on the jerseys of players. No statements for those victims painted on the court.
MINNESOTA MADNESS: More Anti-ICE Chaos Ramping Up in MN: Attack on Agent With Gruesome Injury, National Guard Activated
The NBPA continued:
THE FRATERNITY OF NBA PLAYERS, LIKE THE UNITED STATES ITSELF, IS A COMMUNITY ENRICHED BY ITS GLOBAL CITIZENS, AND WE REFUSE TO LET THE FLAMES OF DIVISION THREATEN THE CIVIL LIBERTIES THAT ARE MEANT TO PROTECT US ALL.
THE NBPA AND ITS MEMBERS EXTEND OUR DEEPEST CONDOLENCES TO THE FAMILIES OF ALEX PRETTI AND RENEE GOOD, JUST AS OUR THOUGHTS REMAIN FOCUSED ON THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
The league postponed Saturday’s scheduled game between the Golden State Warriors and the Minnesota Timberwolves after the shooting death of protester Alex Pretti by the Border Patrol during a struggle.
"The decision was made to prioritize the safety and security of the Minneapolis community," the NBA said in a statement.
Golden State Warriors Coach Steve Kerr is never one to let a good crisis go to waste, and as usual, he felt the need to talk about social justice rather than basketball:
Warriors coach Steve Kerr: “There should be an appeal to our better angels to look after one another and to recognize what’s happening.”
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) January 25, 2026
Here’s part of his press conference before today’s game pic.twitter.com/F2XkKeiKQJ
“There is so much out there that is really difficult for all of us to sort of reconcile,” he said, while also ripping the media for misinformation. What did he not mention? The tens of millions of illegal aliens let in by the Biden administration, which arguably caused this whole ongoing mess.
Minnesota Timberwolves Coach Chris Finch said we’re all “heartbroken” for what “we have to witness, endure and watch.” Once again, I didn’t hear the names of Laken Riley, Jocelyn Nungaray, or Rachel Morin.
Here is Chris Finch's opening statement prior to his pregame media availability on the shooting in Minneapolis on Saturday.
— Dane Moore (@DaneMooreNBA) January 25, 2026
"For the second time in less than three weeks, we've lost another member of our community in the most unimaginable way." pic.twitter.com/mWRhBchC3W
It’s all great for a fan when a coach pontificates over a hot-button issue — that is, when you agree with them. When they spout about the glory of the “Summer of Love” riots, however, or the inherent virtue they apparently see in interfering with federal law enforcement, they lose a lot of folks.
We have a First Amendment, and people can say what they want, regardless of whether they’re professional players or coaches.
That being said, don’t be surprised if the NBA sees another nosedive in ratings.
Editor’s Note: Democrat politicians and their radical supporters will do everything they can to interfere with and threaten ICE agents enforcing our immigration laws.
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