OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 16: Pyrotechnics go off in the background as Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors stands for the National Anthem before their game against the Phoenix Suns at ORACLE Arena on December 16, 2015 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

Much to the chagrin of the “stick 2 sportz” crowd, political and social issues will always reverberate in the sports world.

So when North Carolina governor Pat McCrory signed a law Wednesday invalidating all anti-discriminatory protections for LGBT individuals, it was only so long before the sports implications became clear.

Two of North Carolina’s three major professional sports teams — the Charlotte Hornets and Carolina Hurricanes — released statements condemning the bill, while the Carolina Panthers remained silent perhaps hoping public pressure will subside over the weekend.

Meanwhile, the NBA, consistently the most progressive of America’s major sports leagues, issued a statement kinda-sorta threatening to take the 2017 All-Star Game away from Charlotte if the state doesn’t repeal the bill and restore prohibitions on discrimination against LGBT individuals.

“The NBA is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events. We are deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principles of equality and mutual respect and do not yet know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte.”

This veiled threat from the NBA got the attention of one of North Carolina’s most famous sons, Steph Curry, who seemed much more concerned with the league’s ability to hold the All-Star Game in Charlotte than with the actual bill or its impact on his state’s LGBT community. Via the San Francisco Chronicle:

“I know the NBA has a stance on equality and incorporating all beliefs and people from all sorts of backgrounds,” Curry said after Friday morning’s shootaround. “It’s interesting how that intersection is with the state law and the NBA having an event there. Hopefully, the right things need to happen for the All-Star Game to stay in Charlotte, because that would be huge for the city. Being from there, (All-Star weekend) is a chance to show what Charlotte is all about – regardless of where you fall with that law.”

Oh it’s interesting how this bill intersects with the NBA’s stance? Take a stand, man!

As CSN Bay Area’s Ray Ratto wrote

In other words, he decided to let the NBA do what it will do about House Bill 2. He decided not to become the guy who gets yelled at to “stick to sports.” He decided to bide his time on actually expressing a direct opinion. He decided, in sum, to be neither silent nor vocal, and while the short-term value in that is obvious, the longterm danger is equally evident. At some point, a person of his throw-weight has to stand for something and do it where others can see, or forever be branded as someone who ducked his duty.

If anything, Curry’s comments imply support for the bill, by putting pressure on the NBA to keep the All-Star game in the MVP’s former city. It’s hard to imagine a threat from the NBA will be enough to reverse the course of the North Carolina legislature and governor but much easier to imagine the league, maybe or maybe not influenced by its biggest star, caving on its threat and keeping the All-Star Game in Charlotte regardless of what the state does.

The next 10 months could indeed be quite stressful for the “stick 2 sportz” crowd.

 

About Alex Putterman

Alex is a writer and editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. He has written for The Atlantic, VICE Sports, MLB.com, SI.com and more. He is a proud alum of Northwestern University and The Daily Northwestern. You can find him on Twitter @AlexPutterman.