Steve Kerr explains ‘message is clear' in why NBA players, coaches kneel

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The 2019-20 NBA season officially returned Thursday with two games -- the New Orleans Pelicans vs the Utah Jazz, and the Los Angeles Lakers vs. the LA Clippers.

And during the national anthem before both matchups, all players and coaches took a knee to protest racial injustice.

On Friday morning, Warriors coach Steve Kerr took to Twitter to get a message out to the masses.

Per usual, Kerr is spot on.

For years, the eight-time NBA champion has used his platform to speak out in support of causes he believes in. And ever since the tragic death of George Floyd, Kerr has made his voice heard even more.

[RACE IN AMERICA: Listen to the latest episode]

When San Francisco Giants manager Gabe Kapler kneeled during the national anthem last week, Kerr couldn't have been any happier.

"I was thrilled to see him do it," he told NBC Sports Bay Area's Monte Poole via text.

[RELATED: Kerr surprises Black Lives Matter activists in Oakland]

The 2015-16 NBA Coach of the Year understands that the fight for racial equality cannot just be a movement that fades away. It needs to be sustained.

"I think that that's our job, really, is to make sure that it's not just a press conference and a Zoom call, and then back to normal business," Kerr said last month on NBC Sports Bay Area's "Race In America: A Candid Conversation." "I think what David (West) was talking about earlier (on the panel) was working with the grassroots organizations. I think being committed -- if you're a corporation, taking on that commitment of building a relationship with these grassroots organizations.

"Not just, 'Hey, here's a check for [$5,000], we're proud of you.' Build a relationship with the grassroots organizations, build a relationship with city government and continue this work. That's the whole key, and that's what I'm going to try to do. That's what the (NBA) coaches association is doing. We're trying to build lasting relationships so that the work can continue, even beyond the emotion of the aftermath of something like this."

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