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Indiana Pacers: What do the players and team plan to do regarding anthem protests?

By Adrian Lawhorn

Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images
Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images /
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The current political climate has given the Indiana Pacers and the NBA at large something to ponder regarding national anthem protests before games. How will the Pacers handle this delicate situation?

The Indiana Pacers have opened training camp, but basketball isn’t the only thing on the minds of the league, team management, players and fans.

President Donald Trump’s strong statements regarding athletes who kneel during the National Anthem sparked recent NFL protests, and that has now filtered down to the NBA as preseason games begin in a matter of days.

Let’s start at the top with NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Silver has released a statement addressing how he feels about players bringing their political views to the forefront.

"“I am proud of our players for taking an active role in their communities and continuing to speak out on critically important issues.”"

Pacers general manager Kevin Pritchard has also made his feelings known via press release, and he too supports the players’ rights to express themselves on social and political issues.

"“I want them to be socially active. I want them to express their opinions. Give them the right voice, and if that’s the way they want to do it, then that’s the way they want to do it. It’s much better as a peaceful demonstration than anything else, because our guys care. They want to show that they care.”"

The Indiana Pacers as a team have not met to discuss their plans for any such protests, but that meeting will take place, according to several members of the club.

According to WISH TV, initial indications are that the Pacers will stand during the national anthem once games begin.

One very important reason that Indiana and other NBA teams may not join their NFL counterparts in protest is that the NBA has a rule in place that players must stand during the national anthem. The NFL has no such rule.

It is very possible that certain players and teams will choose to defy league rules and kneel during the anthem, but that is not imminent at this point.

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Several Pacers players weighed in on potential anthem protests during the team’s Media Day.

Shooting guard Victor Oladipo spoke out in support of his NFL brethren, stating that he thought it was “great” that NFL players saw a problem and tried to address it in the best way they could.

Point guard Darren Collison had a softer stance on the issue, but he also thinks that NBA players should “stand for what they believe in.” Collison also emphasized that anything the players do should be in an effort to unite all sides of the debate.

Some players chose to sidestep questions about politics and player protests, including center Al Jefferson and combo guard Lance Stephenson.

Stephenson said that he just wants to worry about his team and help Indiana get ready for the season. Jefferson had an even more direct response when asked about Donald Trump and player protests.

“I don’t do politics. I’m a basketball player. That’s what I focus on.”

For those who feel that sports and politics should not mix, this is going to be a long few weeks — or perhaps few months. President Trump made some bold and divisive statements, NFL players reacted, and now the proverbial ball is in the NBA’s court.

The NBA does have a history of upholding their rule that players must stand for the anthem (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver Nuggets was suspended in 1996 for failing to stand for the anthem due to his conversion to the Muslim religion).

However, these are different times, and the NBA’s official stance on anthem protests is about to be challenged.

Based on the commissioner’s comments and those made by Kevin Pritchard, it seems likely that any Pacers player who kneels during the anthem will not be punished.

It remains to be seen if anyone on an NBA roster will kneel during the national anthem, but it could certainly happen. If it does, the league will have to decide if that action warrants a response on their part.

Next: Top 10 candidates for the 2017-18 NBA Rookie of the Year Award

Many fans use sports as a way to escape the harsh realities of life, but in 2017, social issues and sports have become inseparable — and that isn’t going to change anytime soon, like it or not.

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