NBA honors MLK with a weekend full of celebrations

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated by the National Basketball Association during the weekend commemorating the trailblazer’s life.

The mission of the celebration was to incorporate King’s famous quote: “The time is always right to do what is right.”

Starting on Monday, Jan 15, the NBA featured 11 different games, with four of them nationally televised on TNT and NBA TV. All players were encouraged to wear Nike Martin Luther King Jr. On-court shooting shirts.

“It’s Time”

The 2024 NBA MLK Jr. Day TV spot “It’s Time” honored the legacy of King Jr. and reinforced the league’s commitment to standing by the values King represented. “It’s Time” is a film centered around the quote “The time is always right to do what is right” by MLK. The video showcases the work NBA players have done and will continue to do within communities, challenging everyone to stand up for equality and justice.

NBA 360 Broadcast

Five of the games played on MLK day were aired in prime time in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa as part of the “NBA 360,” a multi-view broadcast. NBA 360 covered multiple games simultaneously with coverage of the MLK Day games. Fans had access to live in-game action, progress highlights, up-to-date graphics, and standings. 104 countries and territories had coverage of these games. It was the 30th time in the history of the NBA that 360 was used, with the first being in 2018.

Teams also participated in the weekend celebration by joining the MLK Award Program. The Chicago Bulls recognized four civic leaders in Chicago, making positive contributions to their communities through education, community investment, health, wellness, and social justice. They were honored at halftime on Jan 10 at the Bulls vs. Houston Rockets game.

2023-24 MLK Award Recipients:

– Janelle St. John: Growing Home
– Tammera L Holmes: Aerostar
– Jamyle Cannon: The Bloc
– Adeeb Borden (Youth Honoree): Color NFP & Champs Male Mentoring

The Memphis Grizzlies hosted a series of ceremonies in Memphis. On Thursday, Jan. 11, the Grizzlies held a Day of Service with Historic Clayborn Temple and FedExForum. On Sunday, Jan. 14, there was a National Civil Rights Museum (NCRM) VIP tour & Intersection of Race and Sports Panel presented by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.

On Sunday, Jan. 14, the Washington Wizards and Detroit Pistons teamed up with the Martin Luther King Memorial Library and D.C. Public Library Foundation, showcasing a screening of “The Rebellious Life of Mrs. Rosa Parks” on MLK DAY before the two teams squared off in a head-to-head matchup.

Spill the Honey Conversation

NBA employees were able to participate in conversations with Dr. Clarence Jones (Dr. King’s speechwriter) and the organization Spills the Honey. The vision of this organization “is to use the transformative power of the arts to change hearts and minds and seeks to move people to act for social change,” according to spillthehoney.com.

NBA Foundation All-Star Pitch Competition Semifinal

The NBA Foundation and Pacers Sports and Entertainment will be hosting an All-Star Pitch Competition in Indiana during the 2024 All-Star week. The competition will highlight diverse tech entrepreneurs.

National Basketball Social Justice Coalition and Philadelphia 76ers Clean Slate 3.0 Support

Back in December, the Social Justice Coalition and Philadelphia 76ers sent a letter to the PA State Senate backing the bipartisan Clean Slate Expansion bill known as “Clean Slate 3.0”.

On Dec. 13, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro signed the legislation. What Clean Slate reforms will do is break down barriers from employment, housing, and education for thousands of Pennsylvania residents.