The Power of Basketball

Leading lights of the NBA on why the fight for social justice and racial equality matters to them—and to all of us

“At the root of this coalition, what binds and joins us together is a shared desire to fight for everyone to be treated with dignity, no matter their race, education, religion, sexual orientation, or economic situation.”
—CJ McCollum, president, National Basketball Players Association, and guard, New Orleans Pelicans

Professional basketball players are famous for their otherworldly athletic talents and accomplishments—but many of them also are deeply committed to using their platform to improve their communities and shed light on injustice. In 2020, the National Basketball Association (NBA), the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), and the National Basketball Coaches Association (NBCA) harnessed this commitment and created the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition—a nonprofit dedicated to advancing social justice and combating racial inequality.

The Power of Basketball is a book of essays written by members of this coalition and other leaders across the NBA and WNBA community—players, coaches, and executives who are committed to promoting voting rights, meaningful police reform, transforming the criminal justice system, and creating community safety. Each essay delves into a particular issue at the heart of the author’s activism and tells the personal story and motivation behind the cause they champion. With contributions from players including CJ McCollum, Malcolm Brogdon, and Tierra Ruffin-Pratt; coaches including Doc Rivers, Caron Butler, and Jamahl Mosley; and team governors including Steve Ballmer, Vivek Ranadivé, and Clara Wu Tsai, The Power of Basketball reveals the authenticity of the drive that NBA players, coaches, and executives bring to the fight for social justice even when the bright lights of NBA games are not shining.

With contributions from:

Steve Ballmer, chairman, Los Angeles Clippers, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

J.B. Bickerstaff, head coach, Cleveland Cavaliers, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Malcolm Brogdon, guard, Portland Trail Blazers, and founder, Brogdon Family Foundation

Caron Butler, assistant coach, Miami Heat; founder, 3D Foundation; board of trustees, Vera Institute of Justice; and author, Tuff Juice: My Journey from the Streets to the NBA

James Cadogan, executive director, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Ed Chung, Vice President of Initiatives, Vera Institute of Justice

Tre Jones, guard, San Antonio Spurs, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

CJ McCollum, guard, New Orleans Pelicans; president, National Basketball Players Association (NBPA); and founder, CJ McCollum Dream Centers

Jamahl Mosley, head coach, Orlando Magic, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Larry Nance Jr., center-forward, New Orleans Pelicans; founder, Zero Hunger Challenge; founder, Athletes vs. Crohn’s & Colitis (AVC); and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Vivek Ranadivé, owner and chairman, Sacramento Kings, and board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Glenn “Doc” Rivers, head coach, Milwaukee Bucks, and founding board, National Basketball Social Justice Coalition

Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, guard, Washington Mystics, Los Angeles Sparks (ret. 2022)

Clara Wu Tsai, governor, New York Liberty; owner, Brooklyn Nets; vice chairman, BSE Global, and founder, Brooklyn Social Justice Fund

James Cadogan is the Executive Director of the National Basketball Social Justice Coalition. He lives in Washington, D.C.

Ed Chung is the vice president of initiatives at the Vera Institute of Justice. He lives in Washington, D.C.