Before Colin Kaepernick started a social movement and became a controversial figure for taking a knee during the national anthem to protest police brutality, former NBA guard Craig Hodges said he was basically run out of the league for his outspoken viewpoints on social issues.
Hodges, now 56, is coaching high school basketball in Chicago and has written a book, “Longshot: The Triumphs and Struggles of an NBA Freedom Fighter,” that details his career. He recently granted an interview to the Guardian.
In the forward to the book, sportswriter Dave Zirin says he used to ask NBA players why they didn’t speak out more politically, back when he started covering the league 14 years ago.