After Friday morning’s shootaround, Cleveland Cavaliers sharpshooter J.R. Smith spoke to several of the team’s beat reports with regards to protesting the American flag and The Star Spangled Banner.
Whichever side of the fence you’re stood on in this debate, there is a good chance you’ve seen athletes across all forms of sport exorcising their right to peacefully protest. Some choose to kneel in solidarity, while others have elected to join hands with their teammates as the anthem plays.
As for Smith, a native of Freehold Borough, New Jersey, he simply feels that the stars and stripes don’t represent what they once did.
As most hoops fans know, the NBA has set a new rule in place — one in which players can be fined up to $10,000 for kneeling during the national anthem. Since they can’t kneel without penalty, Smith, now 32 years of age, tells Cavs Nation that he and his teammates will have to discuss a different plan of attack.
In September, three-time champion LeBron James stated that his voice is more powerful than taking a knee. Maybe we’ll see James and the Cavs make a statement as a group — maybe not.