Orlando Magic forward, Jonathan Isaac has explained his decision not to kneel or wear a Black Lives Matter shirt before Friday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets.
He was the only player to stand as the US National Anthem played on loudspeakers before the commencement of the game.
Isaac, 22, was also the only player not to wear a Black Lives Matter shirt worn by others during pregame.
Speaking after the game, the forward said both actions had nothing to do with supporting black lives.
“Absolutely I believe that Black lives matter,” he stated
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“A lot went into my decision…kneeling or wearing a ‘Black Lives Matter’ t-shirt don’t go hand in hand in supporting Black lives.
“I do believe that Black lives matter, I just felt like it was a decision I had to make, and I didn’t feel like putting that shirt on and kneeling went hand in hand with supporting Black lives.”
Isaac, a Christian who preaches at the non-denominational Jump Ministries Global Church in Orlando, said his decision was backed by the gospel.
“I don’t think that kneeling or putting on a T-shirt for me, personally, is the answer,” Isaac explained.
“For me, Black lives are supported through the gospel, all lives are supported through the gospel.
“We all fall short of God’s glory, and at the end of the day, whoever will humble themselves and seek God and repent their sins, then we could see our mistakes and people’s mistakes and people’s evil in a different light, and that it would help bring us closer together and get past skin color, get past anything that’s on the surface that doesn’t really deal with the hearts of men and women.”
Orlando Magic and coach, Steve Clifford have expressed support for the player’s right to protest however he saw fit.
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