*NBA hall of famer Oscar Robertson says white athletes need to get off the proverbial sidelines and do more to back their black teammates who are protesting racial injustice.
“I think that as people evolve, and things are changing so much in the world with social media and whatnot, these people are young people who have families,” the 12-time All-Star told reporters Monday at the NBA Awards, where he received the lifetime achievement honor.
“They’ve seen some injustice in the streets or wherever it might be, it might be almost anywhere, and they’re stepping up. But the only thing that really bothers me is where are the white athletes when this is happening?” asked Robertson.
“This is not a black athlete problem,” said the 79-year-old. “You see injustice in the world. It’s all around you. Just because LeBron [James] steps out, I’m glad he does. I hope some other players – because this is what they believe – I mean, what do you want players to do? Shut up and dribble? I think it’s time for them to say what they want to say about life and about politics and things about the street and whatnot. And about education.”
Robertson was the head of the NBA Players’ Association when it won a case against the league that helped usher in an era of higher wages for players. He said football players must unite if they want to take on team owners.
“I hope … the whites and the blacks get together. Even with the football. What do you think is going to happen when the union gets involved with the owners? You think it’s going to be settled really easily? No, it’s not. It’s going to be nothing but a total mess,” he said.
Watch Robertson accept his NBA Lifetime Achievement Award from below:
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