NBA & WNBA Recognize MLK Day
January 14, 2022
In recognition of January 17's Martin Luther King Jr. Day (MLK Day) celebrations in the US, the NBA and WNBA plan to honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and continue to advocate for social and racial justice through various activations. And this weekend, the NBA family will be engaging in the national dialogue on race and equality and encouraging collective action in communities nationwide.
The NBA has been celebrating MLK Day with basketball games ever since it was first observed in 1986 and became a national holiday to honor the civil rights leader. The MLK Day of Service is a "defining moment each year for Americans to make help make their communities more equitable and take action to create Dr. King’s dream. His example remains a call to action for Americans to fight for systemic change and is our call to action."
As part of the league’s 75th Anniversary Season ‘NBA Lane’ campaign last year, which consisted of a short film honoring the NBA's legacy, the league has unveiled ‘Imagine’. The 30-second video features former NBA player Dwyane Wade and footage from the Civil Rights Movement as well as some powerful sound bites from MLK’s ‘The American Dream’ speech, given on July 4, 1965.
"Each year, the NBA honors the life and legacy of Dr. King through initiatives that bridge divides in our communities and elevates the voices of players, coaches, fans and others throughout the NBA family," notes NBA CMO Kate Jhaveri.
Throughout the month of January, all 30 NBA teams will pay tribute to MLK’s life and legacy with a variation of activations that aim to battle for justice and analyze the history and impact of inequality in the United States. Ten NBA teams and several WNBA franchises will participate during the national Week of Action, which kicks off on MLK Day. This includes an event called The Huddle, which will feature an intimate conversation between a young person and a professional player or coach focusing on the young person’s visions and desires for achieving social and racial equity.
The Sacramento Kings, in partnership with the Milwaukee Bucks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, Indiana Pacers and Fever, Dallas Mavericks and Wings, Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Orlando Magic, LA Clippers and San Antonio Spurs will host the fourth installment of Team Up for Change to unite, inspire and activate around a shared commitment and call for racial equality and social justice.
“I am really proud of our collective efforts and our continued commitment to lift up our young Black leaders and invest in transformative and sustainable change,” Sacramento Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé said in a news release. “Through Team Up for Change we are working to provide the support and create an onramp for all youth to succeed, allowing young people to control their own narrative.”
During the Week of Action, teams will deepen connections with their communities by hosting activations including community events to bring together young people, advocates and leaders to have discussions about local issues. There will be other events that focus on healing, mentorship, career exploration, leadership training and advancing pathways to substantial economic mobility for future generations.