Report: Referees to Join NBA Players in Kneeling During National Anthem

NBA referees assigned to games for the league's restart will join players and coaches in kneeling around the "Black Lives Matter" sign on the court during the playing of the national anthem.

Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports reported referees had a "spirited" discussion about whether to participate before deciding to support the players and coaches in their protest against systemic racism.

Players on the New Orleans Pelicans and Utah Jazz will demonstrate before their game, which opens the NBA restart, and the Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers will likewise kneel during the anthem later Thursday. Some players on all four teams have chosen not to kneel, while others are still weighing their decisions, according to Haynes.

The NBA will not punish players for peaceful protests, even though league has a longstanding rule saying players must stand for the anthem.

"I respect peaceful protest. I'm not sure what our players will do when they come out tomorrow night, and we'll of course address it at the time, but I also understand these are highly unusual times," Silver said Wednesday on Good Morning America.

The NBA suspended Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf in 1996 when he refused to stand for the anthem.