LeBron James Changed His Mind on Boycotting NBA Season
What a difference 48 hours makes.
On Wednesday night LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers voted to boycott the remainder of the NBA season following the police shooting of Jacob Blake. The Clippers voted the same way. LeBron reportedly stormed out of the players meeting. The season appeared to be over.
By Friday the Lakers were back on the court practicing. The playoffs will resume. LeBron James changed his mind.
What happened? According to multiple reports the players consulted with former President Barack Obama who helped them see that walking away might not be the most effective way to create change. The platform the playoffs provide – the attention, the audience, the leverage – would disappear if they went home.
Theres also the pragmatic reality that ending the season would cost the league and players billions of dollars. That money funds the programs and initiatives players care about. It pays for the activism infrastructure. Walking away is a statement but staying is sustainability.
The NBA and team owners committed to several concrete actions. Arenas will become voting locations for the November election. A social justice coalition will be formed to address systemic issues. Advertising will encourage civic participation.
Is it enough? That depends on what happens next. Words are easy. Statements are easy. The real test is whether these commitments translate into measurable change.
What I do know is that this moment – the Bucks refusing to play, the cascade of cancelled games across leagues, LeBron’s emotional leadership – has already changed the conversation. Athletes have demonstrated their power in ways that cant be undone even if the games resume.
The playoffs continue. But something has shifted. The players know their leverage now. And they wont forget.
