NBA not shying from social protests

It doesn’t appear the NBA is going to shy away from statements about social justice in the wake of growing protests over the treatment of people of color by the justice system.

Last night, in their first exhibition game, the Boston Celtics released and played a video.

The players and coaches then locked arms and bowed their heads during the national anthem.

There’s a history here. The Celtics drafted the first African-American in the NBA, hired the first African-American coach, and played the NBA’s first all-African-American starting five.

And the team locked their arms in the ’60s to call attention to racial divisions.

In a game earlier this week, the Toronto Raptors also locked arms during the National Anthem.

The Minnesota Timberwolves open their preseason in Miami on Saturday.