What Top Athletes From LeBron James To Steph Curry Are Saying About The Death Of George Floyd

Forbes released the list of the world’s highest-paid athletes today, but how much money these players earn isn’t the only thing that makes them interesting. They also inspire, showing a willingness to take a stand on social issues in a way previous generations of athletes would not or could not.

At a crucial time in this country, as police brutality cases seem to come one after another and the world tries to find a new normal during the coronavirus pandemic, citizens across the United States are trying to come to terms with the deaths of young people of color like George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery and Breonna Taylor. Athletes are no different.

LeBron James, who has long been one of the loudest voices in the sports world with his protests of social injustice, immediately posted to his Instagram page after videos of Floyd’s death surfaced. One image showed James in an “I Can’t Breathe” shirt in 2014—after the death of Eric Garner, in similar circumstances to those of Floyd’s—alongside the caption “STILL!!!”

James has never been one to shy away from social issues, with his criticism of President Donald Trump and other political opinions on frequent display, once prompting Fox News host Laura Ingraham to tell him to “shut up and dribble.” So far, he has not, even turning that famous line into the title of a documentary series he produced with Showtime about the role of black athletes, culturally and politically, in today’s society.

The Lakers star isn’t the only one on this year’s list of the highest-paid athletes who has spoken out. Stephen Curry, who got into a feud with Trump about a possible White House visit after the Golden State Warriors won the NBA championship in 2017, posted an image of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeling on Floyd’s neck to his Instagram account with a caption that began: “GEORGE FLOYD. If this image doesn’t disturb you and piss you off then idk.” Chauvin was fired and has been charged with third-degree murder and manslaughter.

In the world of the WNBA, whose teams have a strong history of standing up against police brutality, retired league legend Lisa Leslie wrote on Twitter on Tuesday, “If anybody that follows me is not outraged about these senseless attacks on BLACK MEN, please stop following me!”

Athletes like Odell Beckham Jr., Jaylen Brown and DeMarcus Lawrence also lent their voices to the protests.

Retired stars, too, made themselves heard. Dwyane Wade posted on Instagram that “JUSTICE WILL NOT BE SERVED UNTIL THOSE UNAFFECTED ARE AS OUTRAGED AS THOSE WHO ARE!” 

Former NBA player Stephen Jackson shared a more personal story, saying Floyd was like a “brother” to him; the pair hung out while growing up together in Texas.

Pro athletes have an opportunity to speak up for the voiceless, and how they use that ability is just as valuable as anything they do on the field.