If there’s one team that will likely participate in the racial injustice protests this season, one of the easier choices will be the Chicago Bulls.
Next: Wade, Rondo react to Terence Crutcher shooting
New Chicago Bulls guards Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade voiced their thoughts on the Terence Crutcher shooting on Instagram in separate posts earlier this week.
Jerian Grant voiced his displeasure on Twitter with black people being turned into hashtags because of wrongful shootings involving the police.
Spencer Dinwiddie retweeted Russell Westbrook’s powerful Instagram post on the Crutcher shooting that took place in Tulsa, OK (which obviously is nearby to Westbrook, as Tulsa is just roughly 107 miles from Oklahoma City).
NBA players across the league are seeing what’s going on the world.
They’re not robots.
They’re human beings just like you and me, and yes, a bulk of the total amount of NBA players and overall personnel is black.
On Wednesday, the NBA league office and the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) sent out a joint letter to the players on how to come and work together “on programs to creative positive community change.”
NBA & NBPA have sent the players a joint letter announcing they are working together on... https://t.co/iWsctLWRLZ pic.twitter.com/YVjJ8sy9Kg
— Marc J. Spears (@MarcJSpears) September 22, 2016
In the opening paragraph of the letter, a reference is made to Wade’s participation with Carmelo Anthony, Chris Paul and LeBron James and their opening dialogue with the crowd at the 2016 ESPY Awards about the injustice taking place in the world.
The quartet of players spoke after the deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile and the massacre that took place in Dallas during a #BlackLivesMatter protest walk.
Orlando Magic guard Victor Oladipo has no doubt in his mind that a large portion of the NBA will be peacefully protesting and attempt to make a difference this season.
Led by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, protesting during the National Anthem have began to catch on before NFL games and at different sporting events. U.S. Women’s National Team star Megan Rapinoe joined Kaepernick in kneeling during a playing of the anthem, while the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and their entire roster took a knee before Wednesday’s playoff game against the Phoenix Mercury.
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman cut his time with the media short the other day and didn’t answer any questions about Seattle’s upcoming game.
What did he speak on? The injustice and the impact of Kaepernick’s (and others) protesting.
Golden State Warriors head coach and former Bulls playoff hero Steve Kerr had some of the best thoughts may have seen/heard about the racial injustice in America today.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr came strong, and nuanced, on the Kaepernick issue and the real message behind the non-violent protests pic.twitter.com/9lxuP93NEQ
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) September 21, 2016
So, what’s the point here?
Well, it should be obvious if you’re seeing the big picture.
The Bulls will likely take part in the protests that are predictably coming during this NBA season and realistically, they could be leading the way.
Dwyane Wade has been vocal about making the world a safer place, along with the violence that’s currently taking place in Chicago that resulted in the death of his cousin, Nykea Aldridge.
No matter what side of the spectrum you are on, I would hope that every American is disgusted with what is going on around the country, with what happened in Tulsa two days ago, Terence Crutcher,”
-Warriors head coach and former Bull Steve Kerr
Rajon Rondo has done his part in the community by mentoring young black men around Chicago, along with supporting the LGBT community back in June after the tragic Orlando nightclub massacre.
Wade is one of the most popular names in the league still to this day and in a city like Chicago, the Bulls could be one of the focal points when it comes to protesting this season.
In terms of trying to limit the violence, Wade will certainly be a leader in that aspect and having a best friend like LeBron James; the game’s best player and one of the most influential athletes in the world today should help out, too.
Rondo, although he caught major heat for his slur to gay official Bill Kennedy, has made a legitimate attempt to clean up his image off the court and has wasted no time in impacting the youth in Chicago.
We watch for the basketball. You, the reader, hopefully come here often for opinions, analysis and takes about Chicago Bulls basketball.
But, like I’ve personally recognized and said here at times: Sometimes, basketball isn’t the most important thing.
And hopefully, Wade, Rondo and the rest of the Chicago Bulls organization realize the same thing this season.