Sports
Sports

NBA commissioner Adam Silver expects players to stand for national anthem

By Juliakate E Culpepper
Sept 29, 2017

NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday night he expects players to stand for the national anthem, according to a report by ESPN.

While standing during the national anthem is not an NFL rule but is an NBA league rule , Silver wants NBA players to understand that it’s important to show respect to the flag.

Silver also said wants players to engage their communities and continue having difficult conversations about social injustices, according to ESPN.

ESPN reported Silver said if a player should refuse to stand once the season begins, “we’ll deal with it when it happens.”

About the Author

Juliakate E Culpepper
More Stories

Keep Reading

Kennesaw State fans celebrate after Kennesaw State beat UTEP during an NCAA college football game at Fifth Third Stadium, Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Kennesaw. Kennesaw State won 33-20 over the University of Texas at El Paso. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

As UGA, KSU vie for conference titles, 3 Georgia teams host playoff games

There are five collegiate football programs in Georgia playing meaningful postseason games this weekend.

Lane Kiffin takes LSU job; Florida, Ole Miss, Auburn, Arkansas fill head coach vacancies

Lane Kiffin accepted the LSU head coaching job, Florida hired Tulane's Jon Sumrall and Ole Miss promoted defensive coordinator Pete Golding as head coach.

Controversy awaits CFP rankings: Notre Dame, Miami, Texas plead cases

The College Football Playoff selection committee has a challenging task at hand weighing head-to-head, schedules, body of work and current level of play for the next rankings.

The Latest

General view as the Atlanta Hawks host the San Antonio at State Farm Arena, Wednesday, Feb. 5, 2025, in Atlanta. The Spurs won 126-125. (Jason Getz / AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz / Jason.Getz@ajc.com

Atlanta TV sports listings

As UGA, KSU vie for conference titles, 3 Georgia teams host playoff games

Lane Kiffin takes LSU job; Florida, Ole Miss, Auburn, Arkansas fill head coach vacancies

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo

A 30-year-old’s overdose sparked a new law. Now courts are testing how far it can go.

Austin’s Law, passed in 2024, is leading to convictions of fentanyl dealers after a father’s fight for justice following his son’s overdose death.

Jared Curtis isn’t the only Georgia football storyline to watch on signing day

What will National Signing Day look like? It is starting to materialize significant storylines.

Search for inmate who escaped from Grady hospital enters second day

Timothy Shane is accused of stealing an SUV and then crashing it during the getaway, according to authorities.