Draymond Green, like many athletes, uses his platform to talk about societal issues that don’t have to do with basketball. Invariably whenever he does this, Green hears three words that pop up whenever an athlete touches on politics: Stick to sports.
The irony of this is that athletes are only told to “stick to sports” when politics pop up, but no one says this when, for example, Damian Lillard decides to get away from basketball and put out an album. More than anything, it’s a phrase that is meant to discourage athletes from speaking out about politics.
When Green hears it, he can only laugh. Green spoke at Harvard on Tuesday afternoon prior to the Warriors’ game against the Celtics, and was asked his thoughts on the whole notion of athletes being told by others to exist solely in the world of sports.
“That’s funny,” Green said, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN. “The reason that’s funny is because they say athletes can’t speak on politics. Well, I find that funny because everyone thinks they can speak basketball.”
The Warriors were at the intersection of sports and politics earlier this year, when controversy arose about the team’s visit to the White House. Steph Curry said he was not attending, which led to Donald Trump revoking the Warriors star’s invitation. Eventually, it was decided that the team would not attend.
In moments like that, it’s impossible to stick to sports. But even beyond that, with how politics are something that impact everyone’s lives on a daily basis, it’s impossible for any athlete to stick to sports just like it’s impossible for any person to stick to whatever they do for a living. Green’s point is very good, even if it just pertains to basketball and could be relevant to basically anything else.
