Lakers, Clippers Kneel During National Anthem Before Opener at NBA Restart

The Los Angeles Lakers and Clippers players, along with their coaching staffs and NBA game officials, knelt during the national anthem ahead of their game Thursday night.

The demonstration followed a similar protest against systemic racism in the United States by the Utah Jazz and New Orleans Pelicans before their game, which was the first of the NBA's restart in Orlando, Florida.

Lakers star LeBron James spoke on the matter after the Lakers' 103-101 victory:

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver released a statement of support for the players after the demonstration before the Jazz-Pelicans game. 

"I respect our teams' unified act of peaceful protest for social justice and under these unique circumstances will not enforce our long-standing rule requiring standing during the playing of our national anthem," Silver said in the statement.

The NBA has had a policy requiring players to stand for the anthem since 1981. The league briefly suspended Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf for kneeling in 1996.

Silver had been noncommittal about the league's reaction to protests during the anthem leading up to Thursday's restart, though he did consistently say he respects peaceful protest. Players in the Orlando bubble came together and decided to demonstrate together, kneeling in front of the "Black Lives Matter" sign on the court.

The TNT broadcast also featured a message promoting racial justice before the tip of each game. Players have made social justice issues a major component of the NBA restart, including the "Black Lives Matter" signage on the court and players wearing messages on the backs of their jerseys. 

Players have also regularly called for justice for the death of Breonna Taylor in interviews.