Kaepernick’s Free Agency Shows Another Divide: Between N.F.L. and N.B.A.

Maybe Colin Kaepernick is in the wrong league.

Last season, Kaepernick, the former San Francisco 49ers quarterback, sparked a national debate when he knelt during the national anthem before games, as a way to shine a light on police violence and racial injustice. Now a free agent, he has been unable to find a job, leading to speculation that teams are steering clear of him because of his controversial stance.

If Kaepernick were a basketball player, things might be different. In the N.B.A., the biggest stars routinely share their opinions on a range of thorny social issues. Top coaches, including Steve Kerr of the Golden State Warriors and Gregg Popovich of the San Antonio Spurs, have been…