WHEN the NBA attempts to resume its season next month at Walt Disney World near Orlando, Florida, the league will allow players to have a say in customizing their jerseys.

Players will be able to replace the last name on their jerseys with a statement on social justice. The Players Association reportedly sent initial details of the plan to players Saturday night, and is currently working with both the league and Nike on how to implement it.

The NBA will officially resume play July 30 after what will be a nearly-four month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The restart plan was officially approved Friday. Though the coronavirus pandemic is a growing cause of concern, the NBA has created a 113-page health and safety protocol designed to help keep everyone involved safe.

Players have been extremely vocal about social justice issues in recent weeks, stemming from George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis police custody in May. Several players, led most notably by Kyrie Irving, even advocated that they not play in Florida due to the Black Lives Matter movement — as doing so could distract from the progress that has been made.

However others feel that playing the rest of the season could have a greater impact than not. While replacing names on the backs of their jerseys with statements isn’t a massive change, it’s a positive step for players who wish to express themselves and speak out.(SD-Agencies)