The Golden State Warriors and Denver Nuggets are playing the NBA’s preseason opener at Oracle Arena, and before the game, the Nuggets’ players and coaches locked arms during the national anthem.
Before the game, ESPN’s Marc J. Spears was told by Denver power forward Kenneth Faried that the Nuggets planned to protest. Spears added that Nuggets head coach Michael Malone challenged the team this morning “to do more socially to make an impact off the court than just making a statement by linking arms.”
The Warriors did not protest during the anthem, and had already said that they had no plans to.
No protest from the #Warriors during national anthem, #Nuggets (far side) lock arms. #NBAPreseason pic.twitter.com/yaIiQ68FaB
— Anthony Flores (@AnthonyTVSports) October 1, 2017
The NBA sent a memo last night reminding teams that they must stand during the national anthem, after commissioner Adam Silver said as much during a press conference on Thursday. But locking arms is allowed, and we’ll likely see more of such demonstrations across the NBA in the coming weeks.
[NBC Sports Bay Area]