Thursday night, James Harden stirred up controversy when he came into practice wearing a mask bearing a political statement.
The NBA and Houston Rockets’ official media accounts posted pictures of Harden donning a “Thin Blue Line” mask — one that represents support for the “Blue Lives Matter” group. For context, “Blue Lives Matter” was created in opposition of the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement and holding law enforcement accountable for violence against black citizens. This, of course, is important in the midst of all the work the NBA and its staff and athletes are putting towards the Black Lives Matter movement.