What’s the Message on the Back of Luka Doncic’s Jersey?
The NBA Part II has a whole different look to it. Four months after the season was halted, life in the NBA has a brand new look. There are no fans at the games and players are wearing social justice messages on the backs of their jerseys. The messages, approved by the NBA, range from ‘Freedom’ to ‘Black Lives Matter’ to ‘Peace.’ Luka Doncic, however, wears ‘Enakopravnost’ across his back. What does it mean?
The bubble is working in the NBA
The NBA season was put on hiatus on March 11 after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19. It was up in the air if or when the season would resume. As the pandemic spread across the world, it seemed the NBA might not be able to finish the season. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, however, put together a plan. His plan would keep the NBA players confined to their ‘bubble’ in Orlando’s Disney resort and it’s working.
NBA players and staff are routinely tested for the virus and nobody is allowed to enter or leave the bubble unless there is an extreme circumstance. While Major League Baseball has teams flying all over the country to play their shortened, 60-game schedule, the NBA stays put in Florida.
Major League Baseball has struggled to remain free of the virus. Several games have been postponed as players on different teams have tested positive for COVID-19. Although MLB continues to play its season, several teams are lagging behind in games played as several series have been postponed. In the NBA, nothing has been postponed and the playoffs have begun and are running smoothly.
The NBA is using its platform to bring awareness to social injustice
When George Floyd died after a Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck while arresting him on May 25, the topic of social injustice came to the forefront. Many athletes spoke publicly about the racial inequality and police brutality. Some didn’t want to return to playing basketball because they felt it would take the attention away from those protesting about those injustices.
Instead, the league came together and decided to use its platform to bring awareness to those watching. Players have been getting together before the games and kneeling during the national anthem. The basketball court has ‘Black Lives Matter’ written down the sideline.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has allowed players to wear social justice messages on the backs of their jerseys. The league has approved multiple messages that can be worn. Players have taken advantage of that and have been wearing those messages since the restart of the season on July 30.
What does Luka Doncic’s message mean?
Not every player has been wearing those social justice messages across their backs. LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and Kawhi Leonard, among others, have decided to simply keep their own name on the back of their shirts.
According to The Washington Post, the NBA approved 29 messages, including ‘Black Lives Matter, ‘I Can’t Breathe,’ and ‘Anti-Racist’ among others. Luka Doncic, the Dallas Mavericks’ young superstar, has a 13-letter message written across his back. His message reads ‘Enakopravnost.’
If you’re like most people, you were asking what Enakopravnost means. Doncic’s message is Slovenian for ‘Equality.’
