As players across the NFL kneel in protest during the national anthem, New Orleans Pelicans players and executives stressed a desire to find a way to impact the community as a team.
“As an organization, we understand players are going to have an opportunity to express their beliefs,” general manager Dell Demps said at Friday’s media day. “But at the same time, we’re hoping that we can do something together. We can use our platform to help educate and get with people within the community and law enforcement to have real talk, real dialogue. Hopefully we can find real solutions.”
Demps said the team discussed the issue Friday morning, and he felt players were receptive to the dialogue. Every Pelicans player asked about potential protests echoed his message of positive action within the community.
“It’s not necessarily about speaking up,” Anthony Davis said. “I mean, people always say actions speak louder than words. You can say whatever, but if you don’t do anything to prove that you’re actually doing what you’re speaking, it means nothing.
“For me, it’s all about getting in the community. No matter where it is for me -- whether it’s New Orleans or Chicago,” he said, referencing his hometown. “Wherever it is, it has to start there, doing stuff in this community to help the kids and get them away from everything that’s going on because it can definitely be influential, especially in some of the neighborhoods these kids are growing up in. For me, that’s where it starts. Just trying to get them into basketball programs, or whatever it may be, and just try to get them away from everything that’s going on.”
Dante Cunningham said the team has a “history” of standing for the national anthem, and “we will continue to do that.”
Quincy Pondexter said that as of now, he had “no idea” if other teams will do the same.
“We’re not looking forward to protesting stuff, we’re looking forward to solutions,” he said. “I think that’s the best way to put it. What solutions can we make now, at this point, to make our communities better, to make injustices disappear.”
ESPN’s Brian Windhorst reported Thursday that the NBA and the Players Association are working together to create a plan to handle potential protests. Demps referenced their efforts, saying the sides are “working together and collaborating to find a coordinated way to address these issues.”
Asked for his personal opinion, Demps said, “There’s been some wrongs. One of the great things about our country is that we can protest these wrongs and we can find ways to get solutions. That’s what gives me hope that we can work together and use our platform to help correct some of these injustices.”