Doc Rivers Reflects on John Lewis' Influence After Civil Rights Leader's Death

Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers reminisced about his past meetings with civil rights leader John Lewis after the longtime U.S. congressman from Georgia died Friday at the age of 80.

ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk provided Rivers' comments from his meeting with the media Saturday:

Lewis' office announced in December he'd been diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer.

In June, he appeared on CBS This Morning to discuss the widespread Black Lives Matter protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, a 46-year-old Black man, while in Minneapolis Police custody.

"This feels and looks so different. It is so much more massive and all-inclusive. To see people from all over the world taking to the streets, to the roadways, to stand up, to speak up, to speak out, to do what I call 'getting in trouble,'" Lewis said. "And with a sense of determination and commitment and dedication, there will be no turning back. People now understand what the struggle was all about. It's another step down the very, very long road toward freedom, justice for all humankind."

Lewis, a member of the Freedom Riders, was among the speakers during the 1963 March on Washington, which also featured the famed "I Have a Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr.

Several NBA players, including LeBron James, expressed condolences and thanked Lewis for his efforts in the fight for racial equality on social media:

In June, players raised concerns on a conference call that the league's return to play, which is scheduled to tip off July 30 at the Disney World complex in Orlando, Florida, could push the Black Lives Matter movement into the background, per ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

"Once we start playing basketball again, the news will turn from systemic racism to who did what in the game last night. It's a crucial time for us to be able to play and blend that and impact what's happening in our communities," an unnamed player said. "We are asking ourselves, 'Where and how can we make the biggest impact?' Mental health is part of the discussion too, and how we handle all of that in a bubble."

Players have taken on a significant role in protests around the country since Floyd's death.