SALT LAKE CITY — The NBA has chosen Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell to serve on its newly-formed National Basketball Social Justice coalition.
“I feel like I have a perspective that not many people have, I can understand the ignorance that comes from white people, toward black people because I have seen it,” Mitchell said in an interview with ESPN. “I had been around that for so many years—and then understanding the struggles of being African-American, understanding we have certain things that we just don’t have access to that I was taught in private school. I think that’s where my voice comes from because I see both sides and I understand there is a divide.”
The group aims to “raise awareness, educate and advocate for meaningful reform” and will “focus on action and change around voting access and criminal justice reform at the national, state and local level," according to a news release from the NBA.
In July, Mitchell, the rest of the Utah Jazz and the New Orleans Pelicans began the NBA's season opener game by wearing Black Lives Matter shirts and kneeling for the national anthem.
The Social Justice Coalition board members are:
NBA Board of Governors
- Micky Arison, Miami Heat Managing General Partner
- Steve Ballmer, L.A. Clippers Chairman
- Clay Bennett, Oklahoma City Thunder Chairman
- Marc Lasry, Milwaukee Bucks Governor
- Vivek Ranadivé, Sacramento Kings Governor and Chairman
Players
- Carmelo Anthony, Portland Trail Blazers Forward
- Avery Bradley, Los Angeles Lakers Guard
- Sterling Brown, Milwaukee Bucks Guard-Forward
- Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz Guard
- Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves Forward
Coaches
- Lloyd Pierce, Atlanta Hawks Head Coach
- Doc Rivers, Philadelphia 76ers Head Coach
