LeBron James said Breonna Taylor’s name to kick off his press conference following the Lakers’ first scrimmage in Orlando against the Mavericks.
During his post-game interviews with the media, King James took the opportunity to bring awareness to the police-involved killing that took the life of the 26-year-old Kentucky woman.
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The All-Star champion said, “First of all, I want to continue to shed light on justice for Breonna Taylor and to her family and everything that’s going on with that situation.”
James joins the growing list of NBA players using their platforms to discuss the slain 26-year-old Kentucky woman.
Ballers such as Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers) and CJ McCollum (Portland Trailblazers) used their celebrity to direct media attention towards her cause during press conferences to discuss the case that seems to be at a stand-still.
After being on hiatus since March 11, a collaborative plan put together by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Basketball Players Association, restarted the 2019-20 season.
(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
According to an official league statement, this plan includes health and safety protocols, a single-site campus at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, and “the goal of taking collective action to combat systemic racism and promote social justice.”
“We have worked together with the Players Association to establish a restart plan that prioritizes health and safety, preserves competitive fairness, and provides a platform to address social justice issues,” said NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
Not only did James invoke Taylor’s name in front of the cameras, but he played with her name on his shoes. His shoes read #Justice4BreonnaT along with several other messages RIP 24•8•2, TheKidFromAkron, Revenge Season, and Rat Pack.
James laid out the demands that community, which he proudly associates himself with, wants regarding her case.
He said, “We want the cops arrested who committed that crime.”
“Obviously, in the state of Kentucky, with what’s going on down there I know a lot of people are feeling the same,” he continued. “And us as the NBA, and us as the players…”
“As one of the leaders in this league, I want her family to know, and I want the state of Kentucky to know that we feel for her and we want justice. That’s what it’s all about. What’s right is right and what is wrong is wrong. And this is a wrong situation that’s going on in my eyes and a lot of other eyes in America as well,” he continued.
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The remainder of the season will continue to be played in Orlando with the finals concluding before Oct 13.
“We are grateful to our longtime collaborator Disney for its role in playing host and making this return to play possible, and we also thank the public health officials and infectious disease specialists who helped guide the creation of comprehensive medical protocols and protections,” said Commissioner Silver.
The Los Angeles Lakers lost to the Dallas Mavericks 104-108.
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