Nicole Yang of the Boston Globe is reporting that every Celtic will have an NBA pre-approved message on the back of their jersey in place of their last name for the NBA’s restart.
The NBA and NBPA agreed to this initiative to give players the opportunity to promote change prior to finalizing their agreement to play in Orlando. Players made this request after some within in NBPA raised concerns about returning to play basketball amid significant social unrest in the country after the public and tragic deaths of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
The Celtics also released these images on their Twitter as part of the official announcement:
Here’s a clearer look at Jayson Tatum’s jersey from Mark D’Amico:
Here is what each player will wear:
Love Us: Kemba Walker, Carsen Edwards, Semi Ojeleye
Enough: Javonte Green, Romeo Langford, Brad Wanamaker
Black Lives Matter: Jayson Tatum, Daniel Theis
Freedom: Marcus Smart, Enes Kanter
Égalité (Equality in French): Tacko Fall, Vincent Poirier
Equality: Grant Williams
Liberation: Jaylen Brown
Respect Us: Robert Williams
Stand Up: Tremont Waters
Education Reform: Gordon Hayward
Marcus Smart’s choice of wearing “Freedom” is the only decision that was made public prior to today. The Celtics will reopen their season July 31st against the Bucks.
Photo: (@celtics – Twitter)