Los Angeles (AFP)

Marathon matches, solidarity actions, awareness campaigns ... The "Martin Luther King Day", a public holiday in the United States, is a very important event in the NBA season, on and off the court. Back to an unwavering link.

Monday, fourteen matches are scheduled including the classic Celtics-Lakers. Never had so many meetings been scheduled on this day which brings together, after Christmas Day, the most viewers.

From the establishment of "MLK Day" in 1986, celebrated on the third Monday in January to honor the memory of the Reverend, the NBA has become a major player in these commemorations.

"Its players are predominantly black and, culturally, basketball is recognized as a black sport, unlike other American sports," said Todd Boyd, professor at the University of South California (USC).

"Basketball, associated with big cities, is more cosmopolitan. And the NBA embraces the values ​​of Dr. King like no other league will ever do," said the race specialist.

Since David Stern, "the NBA has strived to be at the forefront of social change, the best that a diverse league can do," said Eric Pincus, journalist for the Bleacher Report, recalling that "it took all MLK’s efforts to make a sports league open to so many people from different backgrounds. "

The NBA was first a championship played only by whites. It was not until 1950 that the first African Americans were integrated, Chuck Cooper (Boston), Nat Clifton (New York), Earl Lloyd (Washington).

- "Why cancel?" -

When Martin Luther King was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, the basketball star was named Bill Russell. His rivalry with Wilt Chamberlain, the 100-point man in a game, is already legendary. The day after the tragedy, awaits them Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Final, Boston-Philadelphia.

Very involved in the civil rights movement, Russell is devastated. Although less militant, so was Chamberlain. The two men do not want to play, but are not unanimous: the Celtic Bailey Howell protests - "Why cancel? What was the title of King?" -, Chet Walker (76ers) denounces a "masquerade".

The NBA finally maintains this encounter and match 1 west of Los Angeles-San Francisco. Matches 2, they are postponed after the national day of mourning decreed by Lyndon Johnson.

"The matches shouldn't have been played, but it's" the NBA to serve you. "There was no respect for MLK. He was almost like an enemy to many in America," recalls the ex- glory Oscar Robertson interviewed by The Undefeated.

"In any case, the NBA was not followed, lacked visibility. We did not pay attention to the players. It was in the mid-80s that their voices began to carry," adds Boyd.

This era coincides with the start of the Stern era. Whoever will succeed in making the League popular and prosperous, has been sitting since 1984 on the federal public holiday commission "MLK Day", established the previous year by Ronald Reagan, yet opposed to its establishment, and who will be observed for the first time on January 20, 1986.

- "Strong mobilization" -

Arizona Governor Opposes "MLK Day"? The NBA will not host any events there, other than the Phoenix Suns regular season and play-off games, until 1992.

In 2001, Stern arranged for the Grizzlies franchise to migrate from Vancouver to Memphis, home of the National Museum of Civil Rights. "The NBA organized a conference there in 2018 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of MLK's death," added Todd Jacobson, head of social action in the proceeding.

"We carry out a lot of actions every year," he continues, mentioning in particular "NBA Voices", a platform aimed at fighting social injustice by promoting equality and diversity.

"On the players' side, mobilization is also very strong to promote inclusion and education", adds Eric Pincus, "even if these actions are regularly carried out throughout the year", like the school "I Promise "recently opened by LeBron James, for disadvantaged children in Akron, Ohio.

Business obliges, the "MLK Day" also generates many fruitful commercial operations, in particular with specially created jerseys.

"I'm not saying that this league is perfect. But it is the one that has made the most progress. The one with the highest percentage of African-Americans. The one where black players are paid better than elsewhere for this they can do, "said Bill Russell in 2011.

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