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he NBA and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) have announced the formation of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition, in an effort to lead the NBA’s collective efforts to advance equality and social justice.
In a statement, the NBA said the coalition will focus on action and change in several areas, including voting access and criminal justice system reform in the US at the national, state, and local level.
The coalition will be led by a group of five team governors including Miami Heat managing general partner, Micky Arison, L.A. Clippers chairman, Steve Ballmer, Oklahoma City Thunder chairman, Clay Bennett, Milwaukee Bucks governor, Marc Lasry, and Sacramento Kings governor and chairman, Vivek Ranadivé.
Along with the team governors, five players including Portland Trail Blazers’ Carmelo Anthony, Los Angeles Lakers’ Avery Bradley, Milwaukee Bucks’ Sterling Brown, Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell, and Minnesota Timberwolves’ Karl-Anthony Towns, will lead the group as part of the inaugural board.
Filling out the rest of the board will be Atlanta Hawks head coach, Lloyd Pierce, Philadelphia 76ers head coach, Doc Rivers, NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer, Mark Tatum, and NBPA executive director, Michele Roberts.
The coalition is formed following the establishment of the NBA Foundation in August, which the NBA Board of Governors provided an initial $300 million contribution to, with the focus of creating greater economic empowerment in the Black community in the US.
Shortly afterwards, the inaugural board of directors for the NBA Foundation was revealed, including Sacramento Kings’ Harrison Barnes, New Orleans Pelicans governor Gayle Benson, Philadelphia 76ers’ Tobias Harris, Charlotte Hornets chairman Michael Jordan, Atlanta Hawks principal governor Tony Ressler, Michele Roberts, Adam Silver, and NBA Board of Governor chairman and Toronto Raptors governor, Larry Tanenbaum.
