NBA players pay tribute on MLK day: ‘We need to continue to speak out on injustices’

On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in the United States, NBA players across the league are speaking out in celebration of the man without whom many believe they couldn’t have reached their dreams.

“What Martin Luther King meant to us as a whole is… you look around today’s sports, life he started something that was cemented to today, that we still preach, that we still have the confidence to go out there to talk about to try to drive to be better. It all stemmed from him,” said DeMar DeRozan in a video posted by the NBPA on social media.

“Take him away, we wouldn’t be seeing the sports coming together. We wouldn’t be able to see humanity coming together like we do now if it wasn’t for Martin Luther King having a dream.”

“The legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King is one of the reasons why we’re here today,” said Milwaukee Bucks guard Jrue Holiday. “To be able to play basketball and be able to have the freedoms that we have, it’s one of the biggest parts of our history, something that we always need to remember and something we always will.”

Beyond celebrating the man, several players preached the need to continue his legacy by fighting for equality and against systemic racism just as King did so many years ago.

“For us to continue his legacy I think we need to continue to speak out on the justices that we see in this nation every day,” said Garrett Temple.

“As an NBA player or a person that has a little platform, it’s my job, my duty to continue that. I trust and believe in everything that he stood for on the social justice front, and will continue to push his legacy as much as I can.”

Here’s are some of the tributes from the NBA on MLK Day:

Continuing the legacy. #MLKDay

This Martin Luther King Day, the players pay their respects to an icon and talk about Martin Luther King’s legacy as a leader bringing people together and setting the tone for future generations to combat injustice. pic.twitter.com/2BoPxozS7V

— NBPA (@TheNBPA) January 17, 2022

“My dream for 2022 is…”

NBA players and coaches share their hopes and dreams in honor of #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/l2ZfyNZxQi

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 17, 2022

Before today’s game, Jaylen Brown spoke on systemic racism and the importance of using one’s platform to fight for what’s important. #MLKDay pic.twitter.com/72h89lI60V

— NBA (@NBA) January 17, 2022

The NBA celebrates #MLKDay today. pic.twitter.com/58djJcdk44

— NBA (@NBA) January 17, 2022

MLK DAY pic.twitter.com/KcgfQQrxPY

— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) January 17, 2022

Austin Rivers talks about the significance of his MLK tattoo and why he feels a special connection to Rev. Dr. King’s impact

Watch “The Arena: MLK Day” live on @NBAonTNT at 2:30 p.m. ET pic.twitter.com/h2jLVawRE1

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) January 17, 2022