For Derrick Rose, actions speak louder than words. He wore a shirt that said “I Can’t Breathe” during shootaround against the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.
The Chicago Bulls point guard was referring to the last words from Eric Garner, an African-American man who died from a chokehold of a New York City police officer in July. A grand jury’s recent decision not to indict the officer has caused controversy across America for a higher accountably of police officers.
Rose’s decision has also caught the attention of Cleveland Cavs forward LeBron James, who told reporters he is looking for the same shirt.
LeBron James on Derrick Rose's "I can't breathe shirt": "I thought it was great. I'm looking for one." Hinted he could wear it tomorrow.
— Stefan Bondy (@nydninternets) December 7, 2014
The NBA world hasn’t backed down from social justice issues in the past. The Miami Heat roster wore black hoodies to support Trayvon Martin, an unarmed Florida teen who was shot by a neighborhood watch guard in 2012. And of course the barrage of tweets supporting Michael Brown, the Missouri teen shot and killed by a police officer. Both shooters were cleared in those incidents.
The courts weren’t ready to convict George Zimmerman or Derren Wilson, and now Daniel Pantaleo. But we all know the NBA and its players have no fear of justice. Maybe they’re in a league of their own.