In a special article for the Washington Post onTuesday, Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar defended San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick and his decision to sit during the national anthem.
Abdul-Jabbar compared Kaepernick's protest to American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks, who stopped in the middle of one of his attempts at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro to honor the national anthem. The former Lew Alcindor called both acts "highly patriotic" and said they should "make all Americans proud."
Kaepernick had the following to say when asked about his choice to abstain from standing during The Star-Spangled Banner, per NFL.