The NBA is officially back, and it’s restarting with a policy change on player protests.
A bubble season focused on social justice and the Black Lives Matter movement opened with a unified statement from players and referees before both of Thursday’s games.
Before the evening’s marquee matchup between the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers tipped off, players from both teams all took a knee as a rendition of the national anthem by the Compton Kidz Club played on video boards.
Coaches and referees knelt too with LeBron James and Anthony Davis linking arms near midcourt.