Trump says NBA’s anti-racism protests will ‘destroy’ basketball as agreement reached to restart games

Donald Trump has claimed that the National Basketball Association’s protests against racial injustice will “destroy” the sport.

The president has said that sports should not not engage in ‘political activity’ following widespread postponements across basketball, baseball, ice hockey, football and tennis this week in response to the shooting of African-American man Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

Trump was also critical of athletes who protested by taking a knee following the death of George Floyd earlier this year, and his latest criticisms came as the NBA negotiated a return to action on Saturday to resume the play-offs.

"I think what they're doing to the NBA in particular is gonna destroy basketball," Trump told reporters on Air Force One, adding that it would be "threatening" to the NBA.

The protests spread across the NBA, WNBA, MLB, NHL and tennis tournaments in New York, and although the NFL season is yet to get underway, teams boycotted training to show their support for the fight against racism.

“It’s very bad for the NBA, and it’s gonna prove to be very bad for football," Trump added.

The NBA agreed to postpone fixtures on Wednesday after the Milwaukee Bucks refused to play their match against Orlando Magic, which prompted two other games to be called off on the same night. All of Thursday’s and Friday’s programmes were also postponed, but a meeting between the league and the players’ association reached an agreement to resume action from Saturday night.

As part of the agreement, the league will help increase the access to voting in the US presidential election, which follows criticism from the likes of LeBron James regarding Trump’s time in office.

A joint statement from the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association said: "We had a candid, impassioned and productive conversation yesterday between NBA coaches, players and team governors regarding next steps to further our collective efforts and actions in support of social justice and racial equality.

"All parties agreed to resume NBA play-off games on Saturday August 29."

The statement outlined a commitment "to immediately establish a social justice coalition" where representatives of players, coaches and governors would look at issues including "voting, promoting civic engagement, and advocating for meaningful police and criminal justice reform."

The league also vowed to "work with the players and our network partners to create and include advertising spots in each NBA play-off game dedicated to promoting greater civic engagement in national and local elections" as well as aiming to set up an NBA Foundation focused on "economic empowerment in the black community."

The statement concluded: "We look forward to the resumption of the playoffs and continuing to work together - in Orlando and in all NBA team markets - to push for meaningful and sustainable change."

Additional reporting by PA