In deal to return to playoffs, NBA follows Hawks example in turning arenas into polling locations

National Basketball Association players will be back in action on Saturday to resume the playoffs after boycotting games this week to stand for racial equality.

They agreed to return to the court after reaching a deal with the NBA that included using many NBA arenas as polling sites in the November election — something that’s already happening here at State Farm Arena.

“They did what they felt was necessary to do and I understand that. Hopefully something can take place so we can figure out what that next step looks like,” former NBA player Josh Powell said.

The deal calls for the league and the players to establish a social justice coalition, as well as using arenas as voting locations.

The league also agreed to run ads during playoff games about the importance of voting.

“The change that we want to see occur is not something that’s going to be happening tomorrow, but we want to see that there’s action going toward that change,” Atlanta Hawks head coach Lloyd Pierce said.

The home of the Atlanta Hawks, State Farm Arena, was already used as a voting location this summer in the runoff election and will be used again in the presidential election this fall.

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“It doesn’t matter who you want to vote for. That’s not my stance, that’s not my position to take. I just feel like it is our obligation, our duty and our responsibility to encourage others to vote,” Pierce said.

It’s just one of the things the players will keep fighting for as they return to the court.

“We want to figure out what we can do right now that impacts change,” Pierce said.

Here is the full joint statement from the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association:

“We had a candid, impassioned and productive conversation yesterday between NBA players, coaches and team governors regarding next steps to further our collective efforts and actions in support of social justice and racial equality.

“Among others, the attendees included player and team representatives of all 13 teams in Orlando. All parties agreed to resume NBA playoff games on Saturday, Aug. 29 with the understanding that the league together with the players will work to enact the following commitments:

“1. The NBA and its players have agreed to immediately establish a social justice coalition, with representatives from players, coaches and governors, that will be focused on a broad range of issues, including increasing access to voting, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for meaningful police and criminal justice reform.

“2. In every city where the league franchise owns and controls the arena property, team governors will continue to work with local elections officials to convert the facility into a voting location for the 2020 general election to allow for a safe in-person voting option for communities vulnerable to COVID. If a deadline has passed, team governors will work with local elections officials to find another election-related use for the facility, including but not limited to voter registration and ballot receiving boards.

“3. The league will work with the players and our network partners to create and include advertising spots in each NBA playoff game dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement in national and local elections and raising awareness around voter access and opportunity.

“These commitments follow months of close collaboration around designing a safe and healthy environment to restart the NBA season, providing a platform to promote social justice, as well as creating an NBA Foundation focused on economic empowerment in the Black community.

“We look forward to the resumption of the playoffs and continuing to work together — in Orlando and in all NBA team markets — to push for meaningful and sustainable change.”

The WNBA announced it will also be resuming games Friday after their own boycott. The Atlanta Dream will play Friday night inside the bubble in Florida.

Reports: NBA players decide to resume playoffs after one-day boycott (NCD)

Cox Media Group