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Brooklyn Nets Discussing Additional Acts of Solidarity

By Tj Porreca

Oct 6, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) goes up for a shot while being defended by Detroit Pistons center Boban Marjanovic (51) during the second half at Barclays Center. The Nets won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 6, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (24) goes up for a shot while being defended by Detroit Pistons center Boban Marjanovic (51) during the second half at Barclays Center. The Nets won 101-94. Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports /
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Prior to the Brooklyn Nets‘ preseason opener against the Detroit Pistons, both teams showed a sign of solidarity by locking arms. Jeremy Lin said the Nets want to continue to do this, and would like to do more.

The Brooklyn Nets beat the Detroit Pistons in their preseason opener on Thursday by a score of 101-94. It was a solid start to the Kenny Atkinson era, but a larger message took place before tip-off.

Players and management from both teams, the Nets and Pistons, locked arms in a sign of solidarity during the national anthem. After Jeremy Lin‘s comments at media day, this was not much of a surprise. Lin said he and the Nets would consider it, but Lin wanted to be sure the Nets would do something as a team. On Thursday, the Nets did just that, and the Pistons came together with the same gesture.

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Athletes performing some form of protests have become hot topics ever since San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick began sitting and then kneeling during national anthems. Other NFL players have joined Kaepernick in kneeling, and some raise their fist while standing.

As it pertains to the NBA, players are required to stand during the national anthem, whereas NFL players are not. However, there is no rule against locking arms, which both teams did in Brooklyn.

For the Nets, this is ideally just the beginning, according to Lin. Mike Mazzeo of ESPN.com reports Lin said the Nets want to do more than what they did on Thursday, and are having discussions internally regarding the subject.

It’s unclear where the Nets go from here. The NBA does require players to stand during the anthem, but it would be intriguing to see the response if that rule is tweaked. Would the Nets kneel? Would other teams kneel? That remains to be seen. However, locking arms is fully within NBA rules, and the Nets and Pistons did so to show unity.

Judging by Lin’s comments, the Nets will have further signs of solidarity in the future. Brooklyn’s next preseason game is on Saturday, against the New York Knicks. That game, despite just being a preseason game, will be notable because Lin will take on the Knicks for the first time as a member of the Nets. But it will also be worth watching to see what the two teams do prior to tip-off.

Next: Nets vs. Pistons Takeaways & Player Grades

Atkinson said earlier this month that the Nets respect the players’ rights, and, “if they’re going to [protest] they’re going to do it as a team.” Brooklyn certainly came together as a team during Thursday’s anthem, and they’re discussing ways to keep the conversation moving.