NEW YORK – NBA Commissioner Adam Silver said Thursday he expects players to stand for the national anthem, which is a league rule.
He wants them to remain active in their communities and take part in what can be difficult discussions, but he says they understand it’s important to show respect for the flag.
Silver didn’t say what would happen if any players refuse to stand, adding: "If that were to happen, we’ll deal with it when it happens."
He spoke following the NBA’s Board of Governors meetings, during which owners passed rules designed to prevent healthy players from sitting out games, and teams from losing games on purpose to improve their draft position.
Under the new draft lottery rules, the teams with the three worst records will all have 14 per cent odds to land the No. 1 pick when the changes are implemented with the 2019 draft.
The team with the worst record previously had 25 per cent odds to win the lottery and could fall to the No. 4 spot in the draft. Now that team call tumble all the way to fifth.
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