Carmelo Anthony and a number of other notable NBA stars made headlines during the 2016 ESPY Awards in July, when they took the stage during the show’s opening moments to make an impassioned call for social change in the wake a number of high-profile police shootings.
A new report now reveals that Anthony also played a significant role in Colin Kaepernick’s controversial decision to take a knee during the national anthem in support of the same cause, when the 49er quarterback called the All-Star forward to ask for advice the night after his protest created a firestorm. But it was Anthony who had the question for Kaepernick:
“What’s next?”
“I spoke to him that night,” Anthony told ESPN the Magazine’s Howard Bryant. “And I’m watching and I’m like, ‘OK.’ Like, ‘What’s next?’ In a very respectful way, he was like, ‘I took this step and, you know, just wanted to get your thoughts on what’s happening.’ And I said, ‘Well, you’re courageous.’ I said, ‘You just showed a lot of courage in what you just did, but now is the hard part because you have to keep it going.”
Anthony reiterated that if Kaepernick’s statement was a one-off it would be rendered meaningless. He also told the 49er quarterback that it was now his duty to become as informed as possible on the issues he was standing up for, as he would now be considered a spokesman for the cause in the eyes of many.
“If that was just a one-time thing, then you’re f—ed. But now you keep it going and be articulate and elaborate on why you’re doing it, and be educated and knowledgeable of why you’re doing it so when people ask, you can stand up for what you believe in and really let them hear why.”
Kaepernick apparently took Anthony’s advice to heart, and has appeared to grow considerably in both his knowledge and perspective on the issues that he is consistently questioned about. Kaepernick says he will continue to kneel for the anthem until he feels significant progress has been made.