SALT LAKE CITY — Utah Jazz head coach Quin Snyder, like the rest of the coaches in the NBA, is gearing up for the season to resume in Orlando. But, even as the resumption of the season nears, there are things that are bigger than basketball.
As protests against racial inequality sparked across the country and globe following the death of George Floyd, the National Basketball Coaches Association formed a committee, spearheaded by Atlanta Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce, to combat racial injustice and seek reform.
On Wednesday morning Snyder spoke on ESPN’s “First Take,” saying that rather than set an agenda, with the committee still in its infancy, the coaches, particularly the white coaches, are committing to listening, learning and understanding.
“One the biggest things has been to understand and to educate yourself,” he said. “I think the more that you do that, the better feel you have, the more comfort you have. What I’ve found personally is whatever reluctance or discomfort there exists, to talk about and really embrace and confront these issues. For white people, that’s a real first step.”
Some players, coaches, and front office executives have taken part in protests and have been vocal about the injustices they see or have experienced themselves.
While listening is the first step as we become aware of the inequalities that exist in our society, Snyder said there needs to be a commitment to action, which is the eventual goal of the committee.
“We see racism, you see discrimination, it’s practiced everywhere, it’s practiced too much and our awareness has all been raised. You hear that awareness isn’t enough and I would agree with that. I think a lot of people right now, hopefully more than a lot, would agree with that.” — Utah Jazz coach Quin Snyder
“We see racism, you see discrimination, it’s practiced everywhere, it’s practiced too much and our awareness has all been raised,” he said. “You hear that awareness isn’t enough and I would agree with that. I think a lot of people right now, hopefully more than a lot, would agree with that.”
Standing up for change and calling for transparency from those in power can sometimes be an easier task than confronting prejudices through self-evaluation.
Realizing his own privilege, and confronting things born from that privilege, is something that Snyder says he is working on and is hoping that as others do the same there can be a shift toward confronting some of the hard truths about racism in the U.S.
“The obvious things for me, speaking from the vantage point of a white man, who also enjoys that privilege, is in those situations it’s not enough to not characterize yourself as racist,” Snyder said. “This is about combatting and confronting racism, even when it exists in yourself. I think that’s another transparency, that we need to look at ourselves first and see ways that we can contribute, not only to our particular role, but how we fight that and combat it and confront it. I think that’s a pivot that can hopefully be made.”
Snyder was also asked about the NBA’s plan to resume games in Orlando and what variables are a concern and where he thinks the Jazz will have an upper hand.
He praised the NBA and National Basketball Players Association for the lengthy discussions that have been ongoing and their efforts to find a safe way to resume play. Though obviously concerned with the coronavirus-related risks, when asked what were some of the factors that Snyder considered most important when planning for games to resume, he noted the physical and mental health of the players after such a long layoff.
“I think conditioning and all the things that go into a training camp that help prepare you,” he said. “Then the obvious, we’re going to be in one location for a significant period of time. I think the mental component of that, team’s focus and their commitment.”
Snyder briefly addressed the relationship between Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert when prompted, saying both players are ready and as excited as anyone to get back on the court, and also pushed back against the notion that Mitchell may not be ready to be a player that can singularly take over when the lights are brightest.
“Donovan’s rookie year he came into a situation where our team was lacking that, and he’s been able to fill that for us,” Snyder said. “He’s someone that’s getting better all the time. I have no doubt in my mind that he’s not only capable, but that’s something we’ll see from him in the playoffs.”
The NBA season, which was suspended on March 11 following Gobert’s positive COVID-19 test, is set to restart on July 31.