Malcolm Brogdon Positive For Coronavirus One Day After Talks With Adam Silver And Others

Just when it seemed as though the NBA was set to have a relatively quiet reopening, news broke Wednesday that Malcolm Brogdon of the Indiana Pacers has tested positive for coronavirus.

This comes just one day after Brogdon met virtually with NBA commissioner Adam Silver, National Basketball Players Association director Michele Roberts and several high-profile players executives to address social justice issues in America.

It was a stunning development for the NBA, which plans to restart the 2019-20 season July 30 in Orlando, Fla. with 22 of the 30 NBA teams competing for the championship.

The Indianapolis Star reported today that Brogdon had tested positive for the virus that causes COVID-19.

Brogdon, who recently recovered from a leg and hip muscle injury that kept him out going into the March 11 stoppage because of the virus, has been a key public figure in recent marches and demonstrations since the death in Minneapolis of George Floyd. 

Brogdon has long been a proponent of rejoining the Pacers to use the exposure as a platform to speak up about racial and social justice. He was a member of a union contingent that met Tuesday with top NBA executives.

Present at the meeting were Silver, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum, NBA Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer Oris Stuart, Roberts, players association president Chris Paul and board member Andre Iguodala, NBA President of Social Responsibility & Player Programs Kathy Behrens, NBA Senior Vice President of Player Development Greg Taylor, NBA Senior Vice President of Content Business Operations Kori Davis Porter, NBPA Foundation Executive Director Sherrie Deans, C.J. McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers, Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz, and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, according to a joint press release issues by the league and the union.

The meeting was part of ongoing discussions between the NBA and the Players Association to address the game’s role in facilitating solutions to the persistent inequities plaguing the Black community, the news release said.

“The NBA and NBPA are both committed to fostering an environment that encourages candid conversations between players and league and team leadership and finding tangible and sustainable ways to address racial inequality across the country. The group that met yesterday agreed in principle that the goal of the season restart in Orlando will be to take collective action to combat systemic racism and promote social justice. Conversations also covered strategies to increase Black representation across the NBA and its teams, ensure greater inclusion of Black-owned and operated businesses across NBA business activities, and form an NBA foundation to expand educational and economic development opportunities across the Black community,” the news release continued.

More from the joint announcement:

“While specific plans were not finalized, there was broad alignment about the direction and priorities of the efforts, especially with regard to supporting players’ activism and leadership. In recognition that long-term change can only come from an informed and sustained commitment, conversations regarding these efforts will be ongoing, and additional details will be released at a later date.

“The issues of systemic racism and police brutality in our country need to end,” said Paul. “As a union of NBA players and as a league, it is our job to use our collective platform to both put a spotlight on those issues and work to effect change. As players, we have taken a leadership role when it comes to using our voices and implementing practical solutions, but there is much work ahead both in Orlando and long-term to continue the momentum and bring about real, long-lasting change to our society.”

“The league and the players are uniquely positioned to have a direct impact on combating systemic racism in our country, and we are committed to collective action to build a more equal and just society,” said Silver. “A shared goal of our season restart will be to use our platform in Orlando to bring attention to these important issues of social justice. We look forward to engaging in ongoing conversations with the players and their Association about our joint leaguewide initiative and thank Michele, Chris and the other players for their leadership toward creating meaningful, long-term change.”