Some of the more popular questions asked of the Toronto Raptors on media day Monday were about where the players and team stand on the recent peaceful protests being performed by athletes around the United States, and how the Raptors may tackle that issue as their season begins in earnest with the NBA’s first preseason game of the year on Oct. 1.
As an organization, the Raptors have always believed in using the power of sport for the betterment of communities and the world at large, and so it’s little surprise that it’s team leaders – on the court and off of it – spoke in appreciative tones of the lead of Colin Kaepernick and those who have followed suit. There wasn’t talk of specifics, but it’s clear the Raptors are in agreement that the power athletes wield with their voice and platform is an important one that shouldn’t go unused.
What follows are quotes from media day, without much editorializing and without much trimming. I thought it was important to get the full quotes in, so apologies for the chunks of text.
Kyle Lowry
I think it’s a great thing that Colin did, and I respect everything he’s done in that sense. For me, as a professional, I think using my voice, using my platform to get out there. Me having two younger black kids, making sure people are aware that me growing up, definitely getting pulled over was a scary thing, and definitely was a nervous thing. I think now we have to use our voices. Everybody can do their own thing. For me, I think using my voice would be the best way, using my voice, using my platform to get that out there, to find a way to come to some type of peaceful solution, and just to keep the conversation going, and try to help everything. That’s where I think that’s where it comes in.
DeMar DeRozan
Yes, without a doubt, all that. And at the same time, we all as individuals on this team have been through different things in our lives, it’s definitely a sensitive thing that I definitely will take that approach to it. I had a close friend of mine, a couple of weeks ago, who was murdered by the police, shot 17 times. It was something I haven’t spoke out about, it was more so of just understanding what’s going on in our society and how much I can help. And that’s what it’s all about. So most definitely I think we will, and I will, for sure.
There’s many a ways. As long as we do it, just making sure we’re all on one accord. Anything we do, we’re supporting one another, and that’s what it’s all about, being able to try to make a difference, and understanding everybody’s point of view, thought process, because like you said, everybody didn’t grow up in Compton. So their point of view on something may be different from mine. So just more so having that dialogue and getting everybody together and understanding: how can we help to be beneficial to the outside world, so to speak.
It’s definitely tough in the sense that it’s chaotic, you want change to happen so quick, so much is going on it seems at once and you want change to happen, at the same where necessarily it don’t work that way. It takes time, it’s not going to be a day, it’s not going to be a week, it’s not going to be a month, but it can start with each individual, and that can speed up the process, however long that may be. But it’s more so just understanding what’s going on and using your minds and no so much your anger and aggression towards certain things, because that may not be the solution, and just really helping people understand that part and working towards figuring out whatever needs to be figured out.
Jared Sullinger
Honestly, yes, I do believe there’s going to be some NBA players that will take a knee. We have (in our code of conduct) that anything against the flag will be a fine. We’re interested to see what will happen whenever X, Y, or Z whatever they do, to me. I think what Colin Kaepernick is doing speaks volumes about himself because it shows that he wants peace. He wants peace. Martin Luther-King, I have a dream speech, he had that speech and everyone shows it on the day that he spoke it or on his birthday, but I don’t think we really follow or understand or listen to the message that he’s really presenting just because of all the things that are happening in America today. I just wish that people would wake up and understand that…if you treat people the way you want to be treated a lot of these situations wouldn’t be happening. It’s a touchy subject but at the same time it’s reality. With that being reality is some way somehow we as a community have to come together and stop whatever’s happening, and hopefully we’ll wake up and smell the coffee.
The support of peaceful protest and continuing the conversation extends beyond the players, too. Team president Masai Ujiri supported NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s handling of the situation so far, and the organization has already begun opening a dialogue with its players.
Masai Ujiri
Adam (Silver) has done a great job partnering up with the players association in addressing this. One of the things with the NBA that I am really proud of is that we get ahead of these things, we all have the right to speak our minds and we’ve discussed with our players. I know coach has taken a good lead and talked to some of our players on some of our players about the social matters and social issues and the need for some social change.
…
I don’t know if kneeling down for an anthem is the answer. To me, if you’re going to do that then you better have backbone and you better go out to your community and you better being doing something to affect social change before you come and do that. I commend those that have done it and have paid attention to it and I think our players will continue to do it.
Dwane Casey
We talked about it. We’ve been communicating, it’s going to be an on-going conversation and I don’t think there is an end date. I came through segregation, I know what it looks like, I know what people are upset about, I understand it. The league has done an excellent job of working with players, the Association, I think our job as leaders here is to have a conversation about it. It’s a slippery slope of what to say, what not to say, you can’t do that. It’s not something you can dictate, that’s what the U.S. is built on, is the ability to protest and I think it’s important for us to be there as a resource. All I tell our guys is to be informed, be informed, do it from the heart, don’t do it just for the sake of doing something or saying something. That young man from San Francisco has put his money where his mouth is, but it’s something that is going to be an on-going conversation and that’s what it should be about is bringing awareness to the situation, what’s going on.
The one somewhat grey area the Raptors fall into is that they’re located in Canada, which could potentially confuse a protest of the U.S. anthem (although it seems easy enough to navigate). The Raptors recognize this difference, and there’s a genuine sense of appreciation for it, though there’s rightfully no sense of distance from the issues at hand just because of where the team resides.
Lowry
That’s one thing, I think as a group, we’ll sit. I haven’t had a chance to sit down with the team. We’re in a different situation. We’re in Canada, so we’re kind of separated. But like I said, my family and friends are home. I’m sure everyone has family and friends at home back in the States. I think it’s something that we’ll discuss as a team, and I think our voices, and use our platform as a positive thing. Use our platform to show the strength that we have and the abilities that we can have to help.
Ujiri
We are blessed in Canada, I think that people don’t talk abut it as much. Free agents don’t come here or taxes and all that stuff you guys will talk about but nobody talks about what a great country this is and how peaceful it is. Maybe we should be helping teach other countries to be peaceful. It’s very, very important and we are lucky to be here. We also have to pay attention because we are part of America, we are part of the league, we’re part of that country, there are 29 other teams and the Americans on our team, there is an issue, there are problems there.
Casey
Huge. That’s what I mentioned to the guys. Canada is a beautiful country. We don’t have those issues here, if they are, they’re very well-hidden. I haven’t seen them in my time here, so it’s nothing against Canada whatsoever. So to disrespect the flag here is wasting your time and energy on something that’s not there. Most of our guys are from the country, but it’s nothing against Canada, because things we fight against in the NBA, recruiting wise, the social issues are not bad. We have probably the most diverse country, diverse city in the NBA and I’ll argue that with anybody. Not for one moment have I felt prejudice or disrespect or anything other than winning and losing, I feel that, but nothing racial in this country and that’s the beautiful thing about this country.
Those quoted here aren’t the only Raptors who have been outspoken, but they’re the team leaders and will likely lead the way in how the team approaches the first game action of the year. Among others, Sullinger and Terrence Ross have been vocal on social media, despite some of the more ignorant backlash they receive from followers as a result. Sullinger, in particular, hasn’t backed down from trying to educate those who follow him and point out hate or poor logic when it’s thrown his way.
Sullinger
I have a voice and I want my voice to be heard, honestly. Twitter’s a start. I have a lot of people that follow me but I just want people to understand that things are not really headed in the right direction where we want America. the only way to change it is by us the people. And if we want change, we must change within ourselves, we can’t just say we want change and go out there and do the same things that w’eve been doing the last 18, 20 years we’ve been living. If you want change, you have to change within yourself. I hope we change.
Not at all. If you want to talk back we can talk back but at some point ignorance will rise, and some people have said some ignorant things to me but it doesn’t faze me. If that’s how you feel that’s how you feel. Ignorance will get rooted out through America as long as we stay together.
I think it’s terrific that players are taking a stand against injustices and trying to use their substantial platform to help inspire change. As a white male who grew up in Canada, I can’t adequately put myself in the shoes of someone else, nor can I just ignore issues because they don’t harm me or we think it’s a little better in Canada. All I can do is listen, and respect those who are putting themselves on the line for something they believe in. I stand with those who kneel.
