Jazz Release List Of Jersey Phrases For Full Roster
Jul 27, 2020, 11:44 AM | Updated: 11:45 am
(Photo by Will Newton/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Utah Jazz released the jersey phrases each player will wear on the back of their uniforms. The players were given a list of league-approved phrases to pick from to show support for social justice issues that have gripped the public consciousness over recent months.
In total, 11 different phrases will be used by the 16 players on the Jazz roster.
A look at what the roster will wear on their jerseys in order to continue the important conversation of social justice ❤️
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Peace – Jordan Clarkson, Tony Bradley, Emmanuel Mudiay
Justice Now – Nigel Williams-Goss
Ally – Joe Ingles
Justice – Justin Wright-Foreman, Rayjon Tucker
Enough – Jarrell Brantley
I am A Man – Mike Conley
Say Their Names – Juwan Morgan
Education Reform – Georges Niang, Ed Davis
Equality – Royce O’Neale, Rudy Gobert
Say Her Name – Donovan Mitchell
Power To The People – Miye Oni
Several Jazz players have already spoken about their decision to wear certain phrases on their jerseys. Conley will wear the phrase “I Am A Man” on the back of his jersey when the season resumes.
“Where that all came from was actually in Memphis,” Conely said. “When sanitation workers went on strike. And I actually got to visit the civil rights museum a few times down there so it meant a lot to me to be able to put that on the back of my jersey.”
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Mitchell’s phrase, “Say Her Name” is in reference to Breonna Taylor who was killed in her home by police in March.
“We need justice for Breonna Taylor,” Mitchell said. “She was killed in her own home. If there’s a point where we can’t feel safe in our home, that’s not right. And I feel like Daniel Cameron needs to do his job and arrest the killers of Breonna Taylor.”
Cameron is the attorney general in the state of Kentucky where Taylor was killed.
Approved Jersey Phrases
The list of the approved suggested social messages reportedly includes the following words and phrases: Black Lives Matter; Say Their Names; Vote; I Can’t Breathe; Justice; Peace; Equality; Freedom; Enough; Power to the People; Justice Now; Say Her Name; Sí Se Puede (Yes We Can); Liberation; See Us; Hear Us; Respect Us; Love Us; Listen; Listen to Us; Stand Up; Ally; Anti-Racist; I Am A Man; Speak Up; How Many More; Group Economics; Education Reform; and Mentor.
The NBA and NBPA reached an agreement Friday on social justice messages that can be displayed above the numbers on the backs of jerseys, a source told @TheUndefeated's @MarcJSpears.
Here's the full list ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/nm16ceKOVz
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The Jazz social justice jersey phrases will be worn through at least the first four days of the NBA’s resumption. After which players can choose to continue to wear the phrases, or switch back to having their name on the backs of their jerseys.
Players who continue to wear the phrases will have their name appear under the number on the back of their jerseys.
According to ESPN, the word “Equality” is the phrase that will most commonly on the backs of players’ jerseys. Black Lives Matters, which no Jazz player selected, is the second most popular.
The NBA season resumes July 30 when the Jazz take on the New Orleans Pelicans. The game tips off at 4:30 pm MT and will be broadcast on TNT and AT&T SportsNet.