NBA Releases 'Together' Ad Before Tipping Off 2016-17 Season

Hours before the 2016-17 season's opening tipoff, the NBA released a video promoting national unity and understanding.

As examined by Howard Beck and Jonathan Abrams in a B/R Mag exclusive, key figures around the NBA are intent on engaging in social activism. New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony told them that this stretches beyond the symbolic protest started by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick to not stand during the national anthem:

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I’m past the gestures. I’m past that. It’s all about creating things now and putting things in motion. So, that’s what I’m on. I’m trying to get guys on board with that and help them understand that—enough of the gesturing and talking and all of that stuff—we need to start putting things in place.

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The 30-second spot features Anthony, Chris Paul, Dwyane Wade—who all spoke about gun violence and racial tensions with LeBron James at the 2016 ESPY Awards—and Kyle Korver stressing the importance of keeping an open dialogue.

"It's time to find ways to talk, listen and learn," Wade said. 

"So we can understand, and be understood," Anthony added.

[Twitter]