Mr Silver,
As you know I have the utmost respect for you. I had the honor of sitting down with you for an in depth interview for my show The Rematch on FliTV
https://www.fli.tv/rematch-w-etan-thomas
And we discussed your embrace and support of NBA players’ right to use their platforms to stand up for what they believe in which has led to the current culture in the NBA. Just recently, it was reported that you have agreed to allowing players to use their jerseys to share a social message they care deeply about. So in essence, we could see entire teams with Black Lives Matter or Police Accountability across their actual jerseys ? That’s something that no other league would ever even consider doing. Much Respect
As I said in our interview, that’s what sets you apart from every other commissioner in professional sports. Not only do you tolerate activism from NBA players, but you actually encourage players realizing and understanding the power of their voices and their platforms. You have created an atmosphere in which players are no longer afraid that their speaking out could jeopardize their NBA careers which is something that was a real fear and concern under your predecessor David Stern. There were countless times during my playing days with the Washington Wizards where I was warned about my activism and told to be careful that I didn’t end up white balled from the league like Mahmoud Abdul- Rauf or Craig Hodges. Thus the reason one of the questions I asked you in our interview was if Mr. Rauf and Mr. Hodges would’ve been punished under your watch. It came as no surprise you confirmed that you would never punish anyone for using their platform to express an opinion, belief or idea. You even went into detail about how Craig Hodges’ method of a letter was as respectful you one could possibly be. Which echoed exactly what you told me in my book We Matter “Athletes And Activism” when I interviewed you for that.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1617755915/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_Owi.EbF3CRCFN
You went into detail about your respect for the history of NBA activism. In your words,
“I inherited a legacy of activism within this league. People like Bill Russell who was not only an activist in terms of things that mattered in society, but also even on behalf of players rights.
There was a precedent and a history here at the league of using the league and our players’ voices on important issues that mattered far beyond the game of basketball”
The NBA has become the leader of all professional sports. As evidenced by the reverberating effect your decision to immediately shut down the league after Rudy Gobert tested positive for the coronavirus back in March had on all sports.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2020/03/11/nba-suspends-play-player-test-coronavirus/
That set the example for other leagues to follow your leadership. (The NCAA at the time was still attempting to figure out a way to avoid having to cancel their season which is a whole nother issue for another article)
But every other league then began shutting down, the MLB, the NHL all the way down to AAU basketball. You didn’t delay your reaction jeopardizing the lives of the multitudes (like some Presidents Of The United States who shall remain nameless) you immediately canceled the season, eliminating exposure of players, fans, arena personnel, staff and everyone else associated with the NBA during an unknown pandemic. That’s what leadership looks like and you exemplified it.
Fast forward to today, we are currently embarking on a 2nd wave of coronavirus cases. Dr Fauci warns of a Covid-19 surge,
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2020/06/23/fauci-testimony-coronavirus-house/
spiked cases are in every red state that rushed to reopen under the encouragement of yet another example of poor leadership from the White House, including the state of Florida which has recently become one of the country’s epicenters of coronavirus cases and hospitalizations
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/06/28/coronavirus-live-updates-us/?outputType=amp
In fact, Florida recently set a national single day record of 15,299 new Covid19 infections which ranks as the highest single-day increase of any U.S. state. About 1 in 5 tests came back positive. If Florida were its own country, it would rank 4th worldwide for new cases, and this is the place the NBA restart is going to happen ?
Let’s just say the bubble is in fact the safest place in Florida for an NBA player to be. What if a player does test positive and has to be rushed to a Florida hospital that has reportedmy been consistently overwhelmed with coronavirus cases to the point that they have maxed out ICU capacities which 40 different Florida hospitals have to date ?
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/jul/10/florida-coronavirus-cases-icu-beds-arizona-texas
Recently in a press conference you said and I quote,
“We’re coming back because sports matter in a society. They bring people together when we need it the most.”
Which is true. But you also said,
“We haven’t worked through every scenario … [but] if we were to have a significant spread of coronavirus throughout the community, that ultimately might lead us to stop it.....We’re not saying full steam ahead no matter what happens … but we feel very comfortable right now with where we are.”
https://nypost.com/2020/06/26/adam-silver-significant-coronavirus-spread-could-end-nba-restart/
With the recent spikes of Coronavirus cases particularly in Florida, and an ever growing list of NBA players who have tested positive for Covid 19 including Russell Westbrook, Nikola Jokic, DeAndre Jordan, Malcolm Bronson, Harrison Barnes, Spencer Dinwiddie, Thomas Bryant, Gary Payton Jr, Buddy Hield, Jabari Parker, Marcus Smart and many others;
The fact that NBA league officials are reportedly concerned about the long term health effects for NBA players who contract the coronavirus for the simple reason that there are unknown effects it has on lung capacity, cardiac health, kidney functions, all of which could impact a player’s career;
The fact that Rudy Gobert reportedly still exhibits effects 3 months after testing positive for the coronavirus, which highlights the fact that we have no idea of the long term effects on a player’s career of testing positive;
The fact that according to the cdc, older adults are more susceptible to catching the coronavirus, which most coaches and staff fall into the exact high risk category;
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-at-increased-risk.html
Along with an extensive list of additional reasons, starting the NBA season, or the season any sports is simply not worth the risk. Valuing the lives of human beings over economic motivations is a concept that is absent from Donald Trump. You are not him. You are a man of integrity, honor, respectability, and authenticity. It’s time for you to continue your tradition of courageous, responsible, leadership and cancel the entire NBA restart plan for Florida.
Respectfully
Etan Thomas
