The Power of Basketball: NBA Players, Coaches, and Team Governors on the Fight to Make a Better America.
POB is a collection of essays by NBA & WNBA players, coaches, and team governors about their personal journeys in social justice–released by the Coalition, the Vera Institute of Justice, and The New Press.
On September 12th, 2024, the Coalition and Vera Institute held with a pre-release book launch event in partnership with Monumental Sports & Entertainment—tipping off the conversation with a panel featuring book contributor Malcolm Brogdon (Knicks Guard), author and social impact leader Alencia Johnson, and our Executive Director James Cadogan.
Share your reflections about the book on social media, tag @nbacoalition, and include #PowerOfBasketball!
“ I knew that once I broke the cycle of crime and violence in my own family, I would use my voice to help other people like me break the cycle too. None of us are past redemption.” — Caron Butler
Malcolm Brogdon, New York Knicks Guard — Advancing Fair Youth Justice
Caron Butler, Miami Heat Assistant Coach — Alternatives to Youth Incarceration
CJ McCollum, Washington Wizards Guard — Excessive Youth Punishment
Larry Nance, Jr., Cleveland Cavaliers Forward — Food Insecurity & Justice
Clara Wu Tsai, New York Liberty Governor — Promoting Economic Justice
“I firmly believe that there is no greater privilege than exercising your right to vote—your vote is your voice in shaping the future.” — Vivek Ranadivé
Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic Head Coach — Protecting Ballot Access
Vivek Ranadivé, Sacramento Kings Chairman — Exercising Your Right to Vote
“Justice is not just a one season thing. It is not a trend. It is not a moment…We cannot sit on the sidelines and expect change…Until there is true justice, we must fight for it.” — Tierra Ruffin-Pratt
J.B. Bickerstaff, Detroit Pisons Head Coach — Need for Policing Reform
Doc Rivers, Milwaukee Bucks Head Coach — Strengthening Police & Community Relations
Tierra Ruffin-Pratt, Washington Mystics Guard, LA Sparks (Ret. 2022) — Accountable Policing
“My daughters, the kids of Uvalde, and kids in every community deserve to dream, to grow old, to build community, and to have children of their own someday. We can act. We can prevent gun violence.” — Tre Jones
Steve Ballmer, LA Clippers Chairman — Community Violence Intervention
Tre Jones, Chicago Bulls Guard — Trauma-informed Responses to Violence
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