Following an incident with the Memphis police, Tyre Nichols passed away after succumbing to injuries sustained after a group of police officers accosted him and beat him.
The incident is the latest regarding police brutality towards members of the black community, with the released footage causing outrage amongst several within the US.
The NBA community in particular took the incident to heart with many voicing their displeasure at the current police system.
For example, the Minnesota Timberwolves held a moment of silence before their game against the Memphis Grizzlies in Nichols’ honor, while the league’s most bankable star LeBron James voiced aired his opinion on Twitter.
An analyst for MSNBC tweeted about how the US has generally failed to understand race and it’s construction as a ‘systemic tool,’ with James resharing the tweet along with the caption “Too factual!”
He shared a follow-up tweet later in the day, stating: “We are our own worst enemy.”
NBA and Memphis Grizzlies release statements
The NBA also released a statement on the matter.
“We stand by the rightful arrest of all officers involved,” the organization said in a statement. “Such aggressive and excessive force illustrates the continued need for accountability in the justice system.”
“We are distraught to find ourselves dealing with a needless loss of life due to police brutality, and this time it was one of Memphis’s own,” the Grizzlies said in their own statement.
“We’re thinking of the Nichols family and friends and share the pain being felt throughout our community. So, let’s support each other and respect how our fellow Memphians are coping. We have faith in this city and our power to heal.”
