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Melo commends Jordan's statement: 'It was brilliant and about time'

Ethan Miller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Michael Jordan's open letter released through ESPN's The Undefeated on Monday concerning the wave of racially-motivated and anti-police violence currently plaguing America caught the attention of New York Knicks All-Star Carmelo Anthony.

"To answer your question about the Michael Jordan thing, it was brilliant and about time that he stepped up to say what he said. Because, at the end of the day, among us, he is our face," Anthony said at a community meeting in South Los Angeles. "He's an African-American, a very powerful African-American. So for him to step up in the midst of these times right now was very big on his behalf."

The former five-time league Most Valuable Player and current owner of the Charlotte Hornets put his money where his mouth is, making two giant donations of $1 million to both the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and the International Association of Chiefs of Police's Institute for Community-Police Relations.

"As a proud American, a father who lost his own dad in a senseless act of violence, and a black man, I have been deeply troubled by the deaths of African-Americans at the hands of law enforcement and angered by the cowardly and hateful targeting and killing of police officers," Jordan wrote. "I grieve with the families who have lost loved ones, as I know their pain all too well."

It was in 1993 in North Carolina when Jordan's father, James, was shot dead on the side of the highway while asleep in his car.

His Airness doesn't have much of a track record voicing his opinion on social matters or politics in general. His letter does follow the trend of professional athletes using their platform as a means to help bring change in the country and hopefully lower the number of senseless, violent acts.

Anthony, LeBron James, Chris Paul, and Dwyane Wade took the stage to open this year's ESPY Awards to plea for social change, while WNBA players from the New York Liberty, Phoenix Mercury, and Indiana Fever wore black warm-up shirts in support of Black Lives Matter.

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