"Going to the White House is considered a great honor for a championship team. Stephen best place to buy mt 2k20 Curry is hesitating, therefore invitation is withdrawn!" Trump remarked.
He laid out a historical timeline of protests from NBA players, citing former All-Star players including Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Bob Cousy and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar among its most outspoken who challenged the views of society during their careers. He said political activism is not new under him, it's in the "DNA" of the league.
"There's a history to activism in this league certainly going back to Bill Russell and that generation of players," Silver said.
"Bill Russell stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial when Martin Luther King delivered his iconic 'I have a dream' speech. And today while we look back and players think that doesn't seem all that controversial, Bill Russell, as a result of his political activism, suffered enormous hate and violence to his home and to his person. There were real ramifications back then for speaking out on those issues."
Melvin noted the NBA, as opposed to the NFL, has managed to set itself apart in allowing players to express their opinions on a wide range of issues on and off the court.
"We're proud of the fact our players demonstrate to people globally that they are multi-dimensional they are not just ball players, they have views about the society around them," Silver said. "It's not all political, many of them use social media to talk about the music they love, the restaurants they go to...they're real people."
Silver said the league and team franchises are working to reduce players' screen time on their phones and social media. He acknowledged an increase in mental health issues in the league today, and said he supports players using social media if it can help them bring those anxieties or issues out into the open for discussion.
Silver said he will continue to encourage championship teams to show up to the White House or not politicize NBA events, but that ultimately he has passed those decisions down to the teams.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said social media has changed millennial players' lives and he's proud of the league's "history of activism" -- he rejected critics' calls 2k20 mt central to stop players from espousing anti-Trump or other political views. Screenshot: NBC | Today Show
