Image via essentiallysports.com //

Wonder how fans will react…

Following the countless Black Lives Matter protests taking place across America and the world, the NBA will now allow players to remove their last name from the back of their jersey, and replace it with a statement on social justice instead.

The move comes following numerous changes made by the league in how they’ll operate moving forward, with the NBA promising to address ongoing issues such as racial inequality and social injustice in the United States. Specifically, their rule book states that the league will engage in “sustained action to issues of social injustice, including combatting systemic racism, expanding educational and economic opportunities across the Black community, enacting meaningful police and criminal justice reform and promoting greater civic engagement.”

No doubt numerous players will be getting behind the initiative, with several already voicing their concern regarding NBA games taking place during the protests. Brooklyn Nets star Kyrie Irving has been openly critical of the NBA restart in Florida, stating “I don’t support going into Orlando. I’m not with the systematic racism and the bullshit. Something smells a little fishy.”

The NBA and NBPA are planning to allow players to replace the last name on their jerseys with statement on social justice, sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2020

The 2019-2020 season is scheduled to resume on July 30. It’ll definitely be interesting to see how many players will get behind the initiative, and whether it’ll cop criticism from spectators and players alike. Only time will tell…