Former US President Barack Obama offered counsel to a small group of NBA players amid last week’s protests and boycott.
Obama is said to have intervened after the National Basketball Players Association President Chris Paul reached out to him.
CNN reports that among those on the call were Paul himself and Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James.
Meanwhile, Katie Hill, a spokeswoman for Obama, also confirmed spoke to some NBA players and officials.
“As an avid basketball fan, President Obama speaks regularly with players and league officials. When asked, he was happy to provide advice on Wednesday night to a small group of NBA players seeking to leverage their immense platforms for good after their brave and inspiring strike in the wake of Jacob Blake’s shooting,” she said.
“They discussed establishing a social justice committee to ensure that the players’ and league’s actions this week led to sustained, meaningful engagement on criminal justice and police reform.”
The NBA and other sports in the United States were suspended following protests by players over the shooting of Jacob Blake.
Blake, an African-American, was shot seven times in the back by a police officer in Kenosha as he opened the door of his car.
The victim is currently in critical condition and the incident has once again sparked conversations about racial injustice and police brutality against black people.
