Our Priorities
Mission
The National Basketball Social Justice Coalition is a 501(c)(4) advocacy organization that leads the NBA family’s collaborative efforts to advance social justice and dismantle systemic racial inequality. Formed jointly by the NBA, NBPA, and NBCA in 2020, the Coalition leverages the game of basketball’s influence to seek and achieve policy change at the federal, state, and local level.
Approach
We work to advance social justice in 3 ways:
- AWARENESS. We use the NBA platform to bring attention to critical social justice issues.
- LEADERSHIP. We support learning and leadership by players, teams, and organizations across the NBA community.
- ACTION. We advocate for better laws and policies on the federal, state, and local levels.
Issues
Voting Rights
Protecting the first right of democracy by strengthening access to the ballot for all Americans.
FAST FACTS
33
In 2021 alone, 33 laws have been enacted in 19 states to restrict access to voting. 1
2X
On average, Black people had to wait in line to vote for twice as long as white people. 2
Policing
Eliminating bias, ensuring accountability, and building stronger community relationships.
FAST FACTS
3X
Black people are 3 times more likely to be killed by a police officer than white people. 3
$3b
American cities have spent more than $3 billion to settle misconduct lawsuits over the past 10 years. 4
Criminal Justice
Combatting mass incarceration, shrinking America’s prison system, and supporting returning individuals.
FAST FACTS
500%
More than 2 million people are incarcerated in the United states, an increase of 500% over the last 40 years. 5
19.1%
In 2017, Black males received sentences 19.1% longer than similarly situated white males, and were 6 times as likely to be incarcerated. 6
1Brennan Center for Justice, 2021; 2Charles Stweart III – Waiting to Vote in 2012 Report; 3Mapping Police Violence.org/2021; 4The Marshall Project/2021; 5The Sentencing Project/Institute for Crime & Justice Policy Research/2021; 6United States Sentencing Commission, 2017 & The Sentencing Project, 2021