Celtics star Jaylen Brown is a member of the NBAPA executive committee that issued a statement on the ongoing issues in Minneapolis.
Celtics star Jaylen Brown is a member of the NBAPA executive committee that issued a statement on the ongoing issues in Minneapolis.Matthew J. Lee/Globe Staff
It’s been an emotional weekend for our country, especially in Minneapolis, where federal agents killed an ICU nurse during a clash Saturday, prompting the Timberwolves to postpone their home game with the Warriors scheduled for that evening.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch and Warriors coach Steve Kerr each offered their thoughts on the tragedy, the state of America expressing sadness and offering condolences for the family of Alex Pretti. A few hours before the scheduled game, Kerr said Finch called him and expressed concern about the mental state of his players, who like millions of Americans, watched video of the incident.
The NBA Players Association released a statement Sunday, with an excerpt saying: “NBA players can no longer remain silent. Now more than ever, we must defend the right to freedom of speech and stand in solidarity with the people in Minnesota protesting and risking their lives to demand justice.
“The fraternity of NBA players, like the United States itself, is a community enriched by its global citizens, and we refuse to let the flames of division threaten the civil liberties that are meant to protect us all.”
Before the Celtics played Monday night, this reporter asked coach Joe Mazzulla about his responsibility in leading young men who are watching chaotic happenings in their world but are also mandated to focus on basketball and their professional lives.
Mazzulla’s job is not to tell his players how or what to think, but to offer an ear and perhaps some advice when they have questions about a country that’s becoming more combative and more divided.
“Everybody is impacted by things differently,” he said. “Everyone has a way in which they use their platform differently. The most important thing is actually the opposite. I’d rather have those conversations with them and let them feel any way they can impact the platform that they have, which is way more important than basketball.
“We have a great group of guys that do that in different ways. Some do it in public and some do it in private and you just allow for people to be able to do that and that’s just the [point] of everything is being around them as men, whether they are fathers, husbands or guys that have impact on people. I think that’s the most important thing you can do.”
Basketball isn’t the only connector between coach and player, especially for Mazzulla. It was coincidental that the Trail Blazers’ Jrue Holiday returned to Boston for the first time since being traded by the Celtics this offseason, and Mazzulla pointed out the most important impression from Holiday is his faith. The coach and player bonded over their religious beliefs and they shared entries on the faith app Hallow.
Like the other 29 NBA teams, the Celtics are filled with players with different backgrounds, beliefs, and personalities, and managing that gumbo can be a challenge. Mazzulla doesn’t want to overwhelm his players with his personal beliefs, the goal is to allow them to be independent thinkers but also offer guidance because this world and its unsettling direction can be confusing for even the old folks.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he tries to help his players impact the platform that they have.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said he tries to help his players impact the platform that they have.Mike Stewart/Associated Press
“Everyone is on a different path and different things, it’s more about listening and allowing people to be who they are,” Mazzulla said. “And kind of have a judgment-free zone of looking at people as more than just basketball players. How can I help you with your platform? How can I be there for you and how can you give them the space to be who they are? That’s one of my favorite things to do is just allow for that.”
Jaylen Brown, who scored 20 points in the Celtics’ 102-94 win, is a member of the NBAPA executive committee and participated in the statement on the issues in Minneapolis. He’s never been one to shy from offering his opinions on national and world issues, but also understands the focus is always supposed to be on ball because of their lofty salaries and social status. But that’s asking them to ignore or discount the strife, controversy, and tragedy that is prevalent. It is an impossible request and quite unfair.
“How I use my platform in being an athlete is trying to make situations that need a little bit more attention,” Brown said. “Obviously basketball is entertainment and it’s important, but there’s other things going on in the world that are more important. The statement that we released from the NBAPA, we sent our condolences to the families who recently have had their losses.
“Our players, we don’t stand for it. We demand accountability and we think that there needs to be some improvement in the tactics, the profiling [of possible illegal immigrants] or whatever is going on. It’s a lot for everyone to see and for the people in Minnesota who are having these experiences and all over the US, even here in Boston. It’s a lot to encapsulate in words. I send my condolences and the players, as well, we send our condolences as well.”
We want our players to be ballers, All-Stars, superstars, and icons, and we have to embrace and encourage them to also be thinkers and men of compassion, because that makes them more like us because they are like us.
The Patriots are heading to the Super Bowl. Ben Volin and Dan Shaughnessy are in Denver to break down the AFC Championship game and preview Super Bowl LX.
Gary Washburn is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at gary.washburn@globe.com. Follow him @GwashburnGlobe.