In a bid to promote equality in the camp, the Los Angeles Lakers have hired Dr. Karida Brown as Director of Racial Equity & Action. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of African American Studies and the Department of Sociology at UCLA. This move builds on the statement the Lakers made a few weeks ago which condemned “racism, bigotry, violence, and prejudice in all its forms.”

Lakers COO & President of Business Operations Tim Harris said, “We are very happy, to have Dr. Brown join the team. She will play a key role in implementing educational programming on race and racism for our employees and helping us focus on racial equity in our day-to-day functions, as well as empowering the organization to identify ways to be more active participants in affecting real change.”

After joining, Dr.Brown had a group call with the organization on Thursday, according to a team spokesperson.

Los Angeles Lakers: Unified as a team

After Kyrie Irving came out and said that he doesn’t support the NBA return, Lakers vets Avery Bradley, and Dwight Howard followed. Meanwhile LeBron James and Danny Green have been campaigning for the return. Despite this, there has been no divide in the Lakers camp. On 15th June, ESPN reported that an unnamed Lakers player revealed, “[There’s] no divide.” 

Howard was very respectful in his statement as he protested. After speaking about why the NBA should not start, he ended by saying, “We are also in full support of our brothers whether we decide to enter or not enter the Orlando bubble.”

With the NBA planning to resume the next month, the Lakers will hope that both Bradley and Howard will participate. There are reports that Howard may be more eager to join than Bradley, but one cannot be sure. Both of them have not won a ring in their career, and this could be their best chance to get one.