The basics of the NBA’s Rookie Transition Program—held in Parsippany, New Jersey, each August—follow the same general path of other major American sports leagues. New draftees learn tips for money management, media training and general wellness, with the NBA looking to smooth the adjustment to the professional ranks.
But during the 2018 iteration of the NBA’s transition program, the league broached a topic not common among most rookie symposiums: social activism.
As the NFL remains embroiled in controversy regarding protests during the national anthem, the NBA has taken a lead on addressing social issues within the community.