NBA continues tradition of Election Day pause

Observing Election Day with a clear schedule is a tradition the NBA plans to continue.

Commissioner Adam Silver was encouraged by multiple prominent coaches to avoid playing games on national Election Day every two years to allow employees, including league staff, team workers and coaches and players, to exercise their right to vote. Silver was a strong supporter of the approach and extended voter engagement efforts led by Warriors head coach Steve Kerr and Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich.

“The scheduling decision came out of the NBA family’s focus on promoting nonpartisan civic engagement and encouraging fans to make a plan to vote during midterm elections,” the league said of the 2022 policy.

Bucks guard Damian Lillard advised voters to understand their responsibility goes beyond one day at the ballot box.

“Pay attention. Get informed,” he said in a recorded interview aired by the NBA last week.

Spurs guard Chris Paul and Lakers forward LeBron James became vocal leaders in the league’s outreach to voters in 2020 as part of the concerted effort to shed light on initiatives to address racial inequality. Paul said in a “Get Out the Vote” campaign ad running during NBA games the past two weeks: “Voting is a team sport. Take people with you.”

Rockets forward Jeff Green said elections are important to him as a chance to “help put people who are less fortunate in a better position.”

Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma said it’s important for first-time voters to understand they “shape the future.”

Only four games have been played on Election Day in November since 2018.

Kerr was a speaker at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in August. He said Monday that Election Day should be viewed as significant and important no matter which side of the political fence a voter stands on.

“Get out and vote tomorrow. Pick who you want to vote for,” Kerr said. “But understand that these elections are legitimate. They’re real. It’s never been an issue, ever, in my lifetime, not a single instance of anybody even thinking that the elections weren’t legitimate until the convicted felon who’s running for office again decided to conjure up all this stuff to put fear in the air, which is a direct threat to our system and our democracy.”