Heat will continue to lock arms for anthem

‘Respectful’ gesture abides by NBA rule that players stand.

MIAMI — The Heat will continue to lock arms during the national anthem as their way of taking a stand against social and racial injustices.

“We are an organization that honors the military, we honor the flag, we honor our soldiers that have committed their lives for this country,” coach Erik Spoelstra said before Sunday’s preseason opener against the Atlanta Hawks. “We also want our players to absolutely have a voice.

“The displeasure of what they’re seeing around the country right now and we encourage our guys to express themselves absolutely in the right way.”

Heat players, coaches and staff began the practice of locking arms during the preseason a year ago and continued throughout the regular season.

“Whatever we were going to do, we were going to do as a team,” forward James Johnson said. “It feels good to have that free rein to make a decision as a team in everything we do. It wasn’t the higher-ups. We felt this was the best thing for us to do ... lock arms and show a united front.”

Spoelstra said the Heat “absolutely respect” what players are doing in other leagues.

“It really is such an uncomfortable time where all of us feel there is a call and a need for action for what we’re seeing that we don’t think is right,” he said.

“But we want to do it in the best and most respectful way.”

The NBA issued a memo to teams on Friday reminding them the rules require players, coaches and staff to st and for the national anthem. The memo sug- gested other ways players could support other athletes, notably those in the NFL who have taken a stand.

The memo, according to ESPN, reminded teams they do not have the discretion to waive the rule.

It also said the league office would determine how to deal with any organization if anyone does not stand for the anthem.

As for alternate ways to make a statement, the memo suggests teams could prepare a video tribute or public service announcement.

The issue was pushed back into the mainstream 10 days ago when President Donald Trump attacked the NBA and NFL, withdrawing an invitation to the champion Warriors to visit the White House after learning that Stephen Curry was considering boycotting the trip and suggesting NFL players who kneel during the anthem as a form of protest to racial injustices should be fired.

More than 100 players knelt during the anthem a week ago, and most of those who did not kneel stood and locked arms.

This week, some NFL teams knelt as a show of unit y before the anthem and then stood and locked arms during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

In London, where Miami played New Orleans, Dolphins tight end Julius Thomas, safety Michael Thomas and wide receiver Kenny Stills knelt during Darius Rucker’s rendition of the anthem.

New Orleans players kneltas a team prior to the anthem, then stood as it began.

Players from both teams stood for “God Save the Queen,” the royal anthem of the United Kingdom.