Nuggets players will link arms during anthem before preseason opener

The NBA preseason officially tips off Saturday evening with the Denver Nuggets taking on the Golden State Warriors by the Bay, offering players their first opportunity to join athletes from the WNBA, NFL, and MLB in the most recent wave of demonstrations during the national anthem.

The Nuggets plan to link arms during "The Star-Spangled Banner," big man Kenneth Faried told The Undefeated's Marc J. Spears.

The NBA reportedly issued a memo on Friday that reiterated the league's existing rule that players and coaches must stand for the national anthem. In the reported memo, deputy commissioner Mark Tatum offered alternative means of addressing the protest movement that's become prevalent in the NFL and other leagues. He suggested players and coaches spread a message of unity through a joint pregame address or video tribute.