WASHINGTON, DC – MARCH 08: Jimmy Butler #22 of the Miami Heat looks on against the Washington Wizards in the first half at Capital One Arena on March 08, 2020 in Washington, DC. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
Jimmy Butler is forced to switch jerseys due to NBA regulations.
During the NBA restart, the league has allowed its players to wear jerseys with social justice messages. Butler’s plan was to wear a jersey with no name on it stating if he wasn’t in the NBA he’d be no different than any other person of color. Before tipoff Saturday, Butler was forced to change his jersey to include his last name as he learned the league did not approve of his “no-name plate” jersey.
However, Butler was able to briefly wear the no-name plate jersey on television with the game broadcast on ESPN before switching the jersey out for his usual game day jersey. His message will still be out there despite the NBA’s non-approval of his jersey.
”If I wasn’t who I was today, I’m no different than anybody else of color and I want that to be my message,” Butler said earlier this month when seeking to sport a no-name plate jersey. “Just because I’m an NBA player, everybody has the same right no matter what. That’s how I feel about my people of color.”
Earlier this summer when the NBA was planning the restart, they decided to allow its players to have social justice messages printed on their jerseys during the NBA restart. They done so after Kyrie Irving and Dwight Howard suggested the NBA should focus on the movement to advocate against systemic racism and social injustice. At the time, their views was that resuming play would be a distraction.
Along with allowing pre-approved social justice messages on jerseys, the NBA has the words “Black Lives Matter” painted on the court in front of the scorers tables.
Players have been vocal thus far. Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz not only brought out a bulletproof vest to a press conference with the names of people killed from police brutality embedded on it, he took to Twitter to further talk about a social justice issue after winning on the court.
“Great team win felt good to be back!! But would be great if @kyoag would ARREST BREONNA TAYLORS MURDERERS!!!” Mitchell tweeted while tagging Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron.
While it is early in the NBA restart, NBA players have been using their platform to spread awareness of systemic racism.