The basketball star, radio host, and author discusses how an unfair run-in with police sparked a life of activism—and how everyone’s wrong about Michael Jordan’s legacy.

The former Wizard was ahead of the game as an athlete activist.

Library Journal released their list of the Best Books of 2018, and We Matter “Athletes And Activism” has been named a Best Book in Nonfiction - Sports. 

Etan Thomas, spoke at the SUNY Oswego Marano Campus Center Monday as part of the college’s I Am Oz Diversity Speaker Series. Thomas, who played basketball at Syracuse University from 1996 to 2000 before an 11-year NBA career, talked about his new book “We Matter: Athletes and Activism,” which explores the roles athletes play in social and political movements.

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“That’s why I wanted to get Adam Silver’s voice in there and Ted Leonsis and Mark Cuban and the people in positions of power in the NBA, to let them know you don’t have to be afraid. You don’t have to be hesitant,” Thomas said. “Their voices are powerful. They’re, like, really powerful. I don’t want people to feel afraid to use their voice.”