Chris Paul, the Oklahoma City Thunder star, says NBA players are intensely mindful of the current social equity protests and feel enabled to have any kind of effect. Paul has been one of many driving voices from the game to stand up on various social issues.

Players from both the men’s and women’s game have been especially vocal in their stand of the Black Lives Matter protests which has picked up energy after the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. A month ago, the Milwaukee Bucks chose to boycott their playoff game after the police shooting of Jacob Blake in their home state of Wisconsin.