NBA commemorates the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

BROOKLYN, NY – JANUARY 20: Garrett Temple #17 of the Brooklyn Nets gets introduced before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers on January 20, 2020 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Copyright 2020 NBAE Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images/AFP


By Tennie Sumague
EBC New York Bureau

NEW YORK, NY(Eagle News) – Fourteen NBA games across the U.S. were played Monday as the league continued its long-standing tradition of commemorating the legacy of the late American civil rights activist, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

All players donned special MLK Nike warm up shirts that bore the quote “We Cannot Walk Alone,” from the famous 1963 speech “I Have a Dream.”

“It’s great that the NBA made this a great tradition of celebrating an American hero,” said Brooklyn Nets coach Kenny Atkinson. “It’s an honor to play [on MLK Day], a special day. Love the three-o’clock game where everyone can come to the game or settle in front of their TV’s and watch talented guys honor great men in our history.”

In Brooklyn’s holiday matinee game against the Philadelphia 76ers, Grammy Award winning Gospel artist Hezekiah Walker and his Love Fellowship Choir were given the honor to sing the national anthem, then introduced the Nets starting lineup in harmony. Nets guard Garrett Temple opened with a special message before tipoff.

“His lessons of service and mutual respect for others resonate now more than it ever has,” Temple said in front of the Barclays Center crowd. “On behalf of myself, my teammates, the entire [Nets] organization, the entire NBA, I’m gonna leave [here] with one of his quotes – ‘Life’s most important and urgent question is what are you doing for others?’ Think about that.”

Several players shared with Eagle News what Dr. King’s legacy means to them.

Nets center Jarrett Allen

“He literally risked his life in something that he truly believed in. Not only for himself but for others so everybody can become a human basically.”

Sixers guard Trey Burke

“His legacy means the world to me. He stood for equality, justice; that’s everything that this world until this day still needs. It’s always great to play on MLK Day because of the representation of who [Dr. King] was. For me, being a person of color, I want to continue this legacy by doing what I was called to do – playing basketball and being an inspiration to kids.”

Nets guard Kyrie Irving

“I’ve done so much historic research within my community and the voice that I have. I wish there weren’t just holidays to commemorate some of the Black historical leaders that have put their lives on the line, lost it and the line of civil rights or social impact. Those things hit you real deep when you know where the society has gone. [MLK’s] legacy is more than a game being played or Nike shoes being put out or something else. It’s so much more for our society to realize what he was involved in and what he did for communities across the world.”

(Eagle News Service)