Boston Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown is skeptical that NBA owners will continue to promote social justice reform long term.
"I'm not as confident as I would like to be, I would say that. I think that promises are made year after year," Brown said Saturday, according to TSN's Josh Lewenberg. "We've heard a lot of these terms and these words before. We heard them in 2014 - reform - and we're still hearing them now. A lot of these are just reshaping the same ideas and nothing is actually taking place."
Brown has been one of the most prominent advocates for social reform among players since protests began across the United States following the death of George Floyd. He emphasized on Saturday that he believes players possess the necessary means to help spark reform immediately.
"Long-term goals are one thing, but I think there's stuff in our wheelhouse as athletes and our resources and the people that we're connected to that short-term effect is possible as well," Brown said.
The 23-year-old commended the Milwaukee Bucks for protesting a game earlier this week, as it prompted further dialogue on how the league and players can collectively fight for social justice.
"In hindsight, we're going to appreciate Milwaukee for doing that because all of us have been here, all of us came down here with the platform that we wanted to use, and nothing has changed in the outside world. So, Milwaukee, what they did, I understand it and it can be done again, if necessary."
The NBA agreed to form a social justice coalition with players, which will focus on increasing voting access, advocating for police and criminal justice reform, and promoting civic engagement.
