Heat All-Star Jimmy Butler Proposes An Interesting Alternative To NBA Jersey Social Activism Messages

Several NBA players came up with the idea of replacing the name on their jersey with a message addressing the many injustices in America. In response, word got around that Ja Morant wanted to display the phrase “F*ck 12” on the back of his jersey. At that point, the NBA knew they would have to make some guidelines. The NBA agreed on several phrases that would be permitted once the season resumes. Mike Scott and many others around the league were not satisfied with the NBA’s guidelines. Miami Heat star shooting guard Jimmy Butler offered another alternative.

Jimmy Butler says he won’t wear anything on the back of his jersey. Not even his name. Wants it blank as his own social justice message. He feels like it represents who he would be if he weren’t a basketball player. pic.twitter.com/2I4vJUpL7x

— Clay Ferraro (@ClayWPLG) July 14, 2020

According to ESPN, approximately 285 of the 380 players participating in the restart have already selected a social justice message to display. However, others like Lakers star players LeBron James and Anthony Davis have both elected to stick with their last names. Jimmy Butler intends to leave the back of his jersey blank. The Heat all-star wants to convey the message that while he is an NBA superstar, he’s just another human being.

“I think it’s important to know that we’re regular human beings like everybody else,” Butler told ESPN. “And the same stuff that everybody’s going through right now in the world, we’ve dealt with before. It may not have been yesterday, but maybe it was 10 years ago, who knows? And for everybody to see how human we really are, and we hurt just like everybody else, and we have to deal with this just like everybody else — it’s real.”

The NBA has not yet made a motion in favor of or against Butler’s proposal. Whether or not it goes through, I really like this from the Heat veteran guard. I’m probably in the minority here, but I’ve always thought names on the back of jerseys is kitsch. The names are what sells; I understand that. I just feel like it’s more appropriate at the elementary level. That’s just me. Although, I do think Butler’s message aligns with that position. The name on the back of the jersey is irrelevant.

At the end of the day, Butler is just another black American dealing with the same injustices as others, inside and outside of the league. I can’t think of any good reason the league would have for rejecting Butler’s proposal. Even if it doesn’t make it through the league’s front office, this was nice to hear from Jimmy Buckets.

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