The NBA Community Collectively Condemns The Shooting Of Terence Crutcher

The police shooting of Terence Crutcher in Tulsa, Oklahoma made national news on Monday, the latest in a long line of unarmed African-American men killed by officers. Plenty of athletes have spoken out about it, just as they have in other similar cases.

Russell Westbrook, who just signed an extension with the Oklahoma City Thunder, posted Crutcher’s name on Instagram along with a lengthy message:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BKmI2Y3Ap6V/?taken-by=russwest44

A terrorist in New Jersey bombs New York has a shoot out with cops and gets grazed with a bullet. And safely arrested. A man with car trouble in Tulsa gets TAZED then shot. And then they stand there. Don’t offer him aid, comfort, nothing. No gun. No criminal activity. And I’ve heard people say “he should have complied”. As if that has ANYTHING TO DO WITH KILLING AN UNARMED MAN. Stop making excuses. His color got him killed. If that was a well dressed non-black female, do you think the helicopter pilot would have said “she looks like a bad person” in the same manner they said Terrance Crutcher “looks like a bad person”? Of course not. His color was the only thing that made him bad. From 500 feet in the air. I’m tired man. And I’m scared. Cuz I’m big and my skin is brown. Lord don’t let my car break down, don’t let me be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Don’t let me reach for my phone or do anything threatening. Jesus help THIS NATION.

Chicago Bulls point guard Rajon Rondo, who has been an outspoken advocate against gun violence, also posted a message:

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKl-EwvAqGc/

Tell me this, how does an unarmed black man whose car is stalled and needs help get shot and killed by police officers, while the NY and NJ bombing suspect who actually shot at police officers gets apprehended and is alive? I guess being black is worse than being a terrorist. Even with your hands up, no gun, and in need of HELP, being black is still a crime.
My sincerest condolences to Terence Crutcher’s family??

So did Dwyane Wade:

We must come together MORE! We must show our strength as a Black Community MORE! Or we will continue to wake up to stories of US being shot down like WE don’t matter. We must show that we matter to each other MORE! We must all do MORE! #TERENCECRUTCHER #WEAREMORE

Wade’s close friend Chris Paul, who joined him onstage at the ESPYs in July to speak out on the issue, also weighed in.

Other athletes weighed in as well, including Thunder big man Enes Kanter.

There will be plenty more in the coming days, from all over the sports world.