The NBA and the National Basketball Players Association have worked together over the last several days to create a plan to handle potential protests by players during the national anthem, sources told ESPN.com.
On Wednesday, NBA commissioner Adam Silver and union executive director Michele Roberts sent a joint letter to all players. In the document, obtained by ESPN, the two sides pledged to work together to find a way to take "meaningful action" in NBA cities in the wake of the unrest in the country.
The sides are hoping to build on the series of town hall events and meetings with local police officials, such as one led by Carmelo Anthony in Los Angeles in July, to continue building bonds of trust between law enforcement, players and communities.