Wizards ditch jerseys in team photo to make statement – The Undefeated

Photos of NBA teams are generally boring, taken primarily for archival purposes at the end of the season to commemorate the team, and are rarely seen afterwards. And then there’s the Washington Wizards 2020-21 squad photo.

Amid a pandemic and a fight for social justice and to end police brutality against people of color, the Wizards have added two unique features to their team photo for this season. Wizards players, who are predominantly African Americans, wore social justice t-shirts that read either “Equality,” “Justice” or “Accountability” instead of their Wizards team jerseys. And in a second version of the team photo, staff who tested players for COVID-19 at Wizards facilities on a daily basis were part of a photo taken. No other NBA team is believed to have collectively referred to social justice in their team photo.

“The importance of this year is greater than basketball,” said Wizards goaltender Russell Westbrook, whose T-shirt read “Responsibility.” “Overall this year has been difficult for everyone. I think it’s amazing as a team that we’re doing something a little different. These shirts have substantial meaning behind it. I’m grateful to be the first team to do something like this since I’ve been in the league. I’m excited about it.

The leaders of wizards declared they first approached All-Star Guardians and Westbrook and NBA All-Star Team Chiefs Bradley Beal about the idea of ​​wearing the black social justice t-shirts with white lettering for the photo. Beal and Westbrook, who have talked a lot about social injustice and police brutality, accepted the idea and three message choices for the black t-shirts and also managed to get the photo accepted by their teammates, said a source. The team photographer took two versions of Wizards’ unique photo, one with the team and with health workers, on April 29 at the team’s practice center. Players also took individual photos wearing social justice t-shirts, gray team sweatshirts and their own basketball sneakers.

“It’s definitely a centerpiece for us,†said Beal, whose t-shirt read “Justiceâ€. “Obviously we are a team and we do everything together. But we are still citizens of this country and this world. It’s us who sort of pick a few words that we live with and stick with as men and as teammates. Hopefully the rest of the world can follow suit and do the same as we try to make it a better place. ”

Washington CEO Tommy Sheppard said, “Today was a continuation of our social justice commitment to social justice awareness. Our players are engaged and our organization is committed to continuing to be allies in continuing to defend the oppressed. “