NBA coaches, players react to breach of U.S. Capitol

The NBA community had strong reactions to images, videos, and news reports of Donald Trump supporters storming the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Some have raised questions about a potential double standard in law enforcement’s response to peaceful protests involving people of color.

Ahead of the league’s 11-game slate on Wednesday, coaches and players around the NBA watched several shocking scenes unfold as groups of protestors broke through barriers and destroyed property inside the Capitol building.

“Obviously, it’s quite troubling and sad,” said Doc Rivers, coach of Philadelphia 76ers, on Wednesday before his team’s game against the Washington Wizards. “However, I keep hearing that this is an assault on democracy. It’s not. Democracy will always triumph. It reveals a lot though. For instance, when we witnessed the summer protests and the riots, or rather the police, the National Guard, and the Army’s response, compared to the lack of response to this, it underscores the point about privilege in many ways.”

“Many people might not want to say it, but I will,” Rivers stated. “Imagine how the outcome might have been different if those storming the Capitol were all black individuals. That’s an image that speaks volumes and potentially something we need to confront. We saw no police dogs set on the crowd, no billy clubs used; instead, individuals were politely escorted from the Capitol. This demonstrates that a crowd can be peacefully dispersed. However, it’s a distressing day in many respects and not beneficial for our nation.”

Rivers wasn’t the only one who highlighted the disparity in law enforcement presence and response during Wednesday’s Capitol protests, compared to the extensive resources used to suppress the Black Lives Matter protests that followed George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis over the summer.

In Miami, before the Boston Celtics squared off against the Miami Heat, the players issued a joint statement and indicated there was some thought of not playing the nationally televised game.

In Milwaukee, both the Bucks and Detroit Pistons deliberately made turnovers on their first possessions with all 10 players on the court taking a knee.

UNITED. pic.twitter.com/RCUuGY4HMN

— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) January 7, 2021

Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce, based in Atlanta, stated that “it’ll never change” until the country recognizes the disparity in the treatment of people of color by law enforcement, compared to non-minorities.

“Things will never alter unless we acknowledge historical mistreatment of African Americans, tracing all the way back to slavery, Reconstruction, and the civil rights movement,” stated Pierce. “You cannot anticipate change without recognizing the existence of a problem. The current events serve as a stark reminder of the significant disparity. The reason why there are no shootings, brutality, looting, and similar incidents, yet people are casually strolling around the Capitol building and even occupying [Speaker of the House of Representatives] Nancy Pelosi’s office as if it’s a normal occurrence, is part of this disparity.”

We all comprehend that if the protesters had been Black, guns and fires would be blazing right now. We haven’t even touched on the potential for interior destruction and damage to the building.

Pierce emphasized, “Until we recognize the vast disparity in how law enforcement treats Black people, nothing will change. This recognition has yet to occur. We have argued over this, protested for this. People have been urged to vote for new leadership for this very reason. But unless we genuinely accept the unequal treatment of Black people in this country, particularly in interactions with law enforcement, no progress will be made.”

New Orleans Pelicans coach Stan Van Gundy expressed similar sentiments, and posted a Tweet rhetorically asking how law enforcement would have handled Wednesday’s incident had it involved Black Lives Matters protesters.

“Would the federal reaction at the Capitol be identical if Black Lives Matters protesters were the ones physically infiltrating the building?” wrote Van Gundy. “Recall the response in Oregon that was justified as necessary for federal property protection?”

Hired back in October to replace Alvin Gentry as head coach of the Pelicans, Van Gundy has long advocated for social justice, and once told Marc Spears of The Undefeated that “I only know about these issues, and these problems, and these inequities from people I’ve been associated with, work with, know, care about,” before adding that “just because something doesn’t happen to you, if it’s happening to people you know, if it’s happening to people you care about, you care about the issue.”

NBA TV analysts discuss the siege at the Capitol

Numerous active and inactive NBA players voiced comparable levels of concern on Twitter.

“An absolute disgrace what’s happening at the US Capitol right now,” Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love posted to Twitter. “And a blatant example of inequity in how law enforcement chooses to deal with those involved.”

What’s occurring at the US Capitol right now is an utter disgrace. It’s also a glaring illustration of the inequality in how law enforcement decides to handle the individuals involved.

— Kevin Love (@kevinlove) January 6, 2021

Jamal Crawford tweeted that “you do things like this when you know there is a certain privilege where nothing is gonna happen to you.”

Meanwhile, Chicago Bulls guard Garrett Temple tweeted that he was neither shocked or embarrassed by Wednesday’s events.

Temple penned, “The term ’embarrassing’ keeps appearing as I scroll through my timeline. However, I’m neither embarrassed, nor surprised, or even shocked. To feel embarrassed implies a sense of shame about what’s happening, but I don’t harbor such feelings. These individuals are far from being a reflection of who I am.”

Scott Brooks, the head coach of the Washington Wizards and opponent of Rivers on Wednesday night, labeled Wednesday’s events as “sad and embarrassing.”

“We must strive to be better than what I’ve seen in the videos; it’s revolting,” stated Brooks. “This is a place of significance. Our hope is for everyone who was there, including our fans, to be safe. Such behavior should not be permitted. It’s not acceptable. This is the Capitol of America. The actions I saw in the video shouldn’t be allowed. It’s revolting, shameful and should never occur. We must fulfill our responsibilities. This is our work. It’s a small part of our day. We all share the same sentiment. It’s truly revolting, but we must improve. Democracy exists for a reason, it’s what everyone has fought for.”

NBAPA executive director Michele Roberts spoke to ESPN in the aftermath of Wednesday’s events, and like many of her colleagues around the league, pointed out the racial double standard that the breaching of the U.S. Capitol displayed to the entire country.

“We saw a Black police officer being chased, and players said to me, ‘So this is what they can do?’ And people don’t get this privilege stuff. I know how they’re feeling,” Roberts told ESPN. “I am so angry and pained — and refusing to cry. It reminded me of something that James Baldwin said, when asked what it was like to be a Negro in the United States of America. He said that if you’re conscious of what’s going on in the country, and you’re a Negro, you’re in a constant state of rage.

“On a day such as this, it’s the foremost thought in my mind. I can only express my gratitude in the hope that no one who shares my appearance will have to confront this situation on Capitol Hill. I am certain that if they do, the reaction from law enforcement will be drastically different. This is a fact both you and I are completely aware of.”

I continuously come across the term “embarrassing” while scrolling through my timeline. However, I don’t feel embarrassed, shocked, or even surprised. To be embarrassed implies a sense of shame about the current situation, which I certainly do not experience. I don’t relate to these people at all; they don’t represent me in any way.

— Garrett Temple (@GTemp17) January 6, 2021

When the NBA season 2019-20 resumed in July after a COVID-19 break, the league permitted the phrase “Black Lives Matter” to be inscribed on the courts. It also endorsed the display of social justice messages on the back of players’ jerseys and authorized both coaches and players to kneel during the national anthem.

The league’s collective activism was on full display.

After the Jacob Blake shooting by law enforcement in Kenosha, Wisconsin back in August, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to not play their first-round playoff game against the Orlando Magic. On Tuesday, Kenosha (WI) County District Attorney Michael Graveley announced he would not bring charges against the police officer who shot and paralyzed Blake.

The announcement and Wednesday’s events at the U.S. Capitol building appeared to significantly undermine the efforts put forth by the NBA and WNBA, who have largely been leading the charge.

Stephen Silas, coach of the Houston Rockets, found it challenging to express his thoughts on what the world saw happening at the U.S. Capitol building.

“It’s multifaceted,” Silas noted. “You have the events at the Capitol building, the reasons behind them, and the methods used; not to mention the division and everything else that’s happening.” He went on to say, “Our country has a long history of division along party lines. However, it seems the current situation is more about a division in humanity itself. That’s the issue I’m wrestling with at the moment.”

Mark Daigneault, the coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, saw the incident as a sign indicating the considerable progress that remains to be made in the country, beginning with some deep introspection.

“Clearly, it’s shocking and quite surreal. This is a remarkable country,” expressed Daigneault. “However, at times, it’s difficult to identify ourselves. The gap between our desired selves, our perceived selves, and our actual selves can be significant at times. This incident, coupled with a series of events in our recent past, serves as another reminder that we still have a long way to go.”

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