The NBA family has tipped-off league-wide efforts to honour the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Throughout the weekend, the league, teams, coaches and current and former players will engage in dialogue on race and equality on our platforms and encourage collective action in our communities. On Monday, Jan. 18, we will celebrate with a lineup of seven games across NBA TV Canada, Sportsnet and TSN tipping off at 12:00 p.m. ET (schedule below). Canadian Jamal Murray will feature in the new MLK spot, and Toronto Raptors’ Senior Basketball Advisor Wayne Embry will participate in a Virtual Roundtable.
NBA MLK Custom Nike Warm-Ups
NBA teams playing Jan. 14–18 will wear custom Nike MLK Day warm-up t-shirts designed in collaboration with the NBPA, MLK Foundation and Martin Luther King III.
The front of the t-shirt features words from MLK’s timeless “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington on Aug. 28, 1963, “NOW IS THE TIME TO MAKE JUSTICE A REALITY FOR ALL,” while the back reads “HONOR KING” with the lettering adorned with Dr. King Jr.’s signature. Both messages are printed in a font derived from the carrying signs used in Dr. King Jr.’s memorial march on April 8, 1968.
“We Must Learn” MLK TV Spot
The NBA will unveil “We Must Learn,” a new spot that encourages all to celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s life by continuing his legacy. Featuring soundbites from Dr. King’s speech “We Must Learn to Live Together” and the instrumental of Public Enemy’s “Harder Than You Think,” the spot depicts still images and video from peaceful protests throughout the Civil Rights Movement infused with footage of NBA players, coaches and leaders demonstrating in their communities in the wake of social injustice over the past year. The words of Dr. King’s speech are exemplified through the imagery of people of all backgrounds coming together on the basketball court:
More than anything else, we’ve got to learn to love
Because we are all tied together
We must act now
We are in America and we got to learn how to live together
We ain’t going nowhere
We need to learn how to love
The spot – featuring members of the NBA family including Denver Nuggets’ Jamal Murray, Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown, Dallas Mavericks’ Mark Cuban and Luka Dončić, Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, Milwaukee Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo, New Orleans Pelicans’ Lonzo Ball and Zion Williamson, Sacramento Kings’ Vivek Ranadivé, San Antonio Spurs’ Gregg Popovich, and Washington Wizards’ Bradley Beal – will debut today in broadcast and across NBA social and digital platforms.
- “We Must Learn” private YT link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Rx5pxWs-c&feature=youtu.be&ab_channel=NBA
- Stills: https://nba.box.com/s/8m61jzckp92msh0vn5xqfbbza5bwq348
NBA MLK Day Virtual Roundtable
As part of the celebrations, the league will host an NBA Virtual Roundtable to discuss Dr. King’s vision for racial equality and the modern movement for social justice. Toronto Raptors’ Senior Basketball Advisor and the league’s first Black General Manager Wayne Embry, National Civil Rights Museum President Terri Freeman and former Mayor of New Orleans Mitch Landrieu will join host Caron Butler, NBA Champion and Miami Heat assistant coach, for a candid discussion on Dr. King’s life and vision for equality, as well as the impact of racism and inequity in communities today. The conversation will explore ways that people of all backgrounds can create meaningful change in their own lives and communities.
The 40-minute discussion will stream live on the @NBA Twitter account on Monday, Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. ET.
NBA on MLK Day Canadian TV Schedule:
- Orlando Magic vs. New York Knicks – 12:00 p.m. ET on Sportsnet
- Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Washington Wizards – 2:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV Canada
- Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Atlanta Hawks – 2:30 p.m. ET on TSN
- Detroit Pistons vs. Miami Heat – 3:00 p.m. ET on Sportsnet
- Phoenix Suns vs. Memphis Grizzlies – 5:00 p.m. ET on TSN
- Dallas Mavericks vs. Toronto Raptors – 7:30 p.m. ET on TSN
- Golden State Warriors vs. Los Angeles Lakers – 10:00 p.m. ET on TSN
Throughout the weekend, all 30 NBA teams will honour Dr. King’s fight for justice.
Please visit NBA.com/MLK for additional information on team and league celebrations, action, service and conversations. #NBAonMLK #MLKDay