Report: Irving, Bradley leading coalition to address NBA restart concerns

Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving and Los Angeles Lakers guard Avery Bradley have assumed leadership roles among a coalition of NBA players aiming to address social justice and health concerns ahead of the 2019-20 season's tentative restart, sources told ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski and Malika Andrews.

The pair reportedly feel they are giving a platform to those who have been unheard or felt afraid to speak out during discussions about restarting the campaign.

The group's concerns reportedly include leveraging the league's influence to promote social justice reform as well as health-related logistics pertaining to the league's plan to continue the season with 22 teams at Walt Disney World in Orlando.

"We are a group of men and women from different teams and industries that are normally painted as opponents, but have put our egos and differences aside to make sure we stand united and demand honesty during this uncertain time," the coalition declared in a statement to ESPN.

Irving reportedly led a call with 80-100 players Friday, and he and Bradley are said to have helped organize another call with 40 players Monday.

The call also reportedly included former 75-year-old Olympian John Carlos, whose gesture of raising a gloved fist after he won a bronze medal at the 1968 Summer Olympics remains one of the signature political images in sporting history.

The coalition apparently features men and women from beyond the realm of basketball.

"This is not about individual players, athletes or entertainers," the group's statement added. "This is about our group of strong men and women uniting for change. We have our respective fields; however, we will not just shut up and play to distract us from what this whole system has been about: Use and abuse."