Austin Rivers Shares Refreshingly Logical Response to Kyrie Irving's Concerns About Resuming NBA Season

Kyrie Irving's name has been trending again due to the Brooklyn Nets star's expression of skepticism about the NBA's plan to resume the 2019-20 season. Irving said he doesn't think it's a good idea to enter the "bubble" at Walt Disney World in Orlando, as it would create a distraction from the fight for social reform. Some players have taken his side, but not all of them.

Count Houston Rockets guard Austin Rivers as an individual that believes the league's return-to-play plan doesn't preclude players from taking a stand for what's right. In a lengthy Instagram post, Rivers said he's "trying to find the correlation" between cancelling the remainder of the campaign and battling for racial equality.

Rivers points out that if the eligible players report to Orlando for the rest of the season, then everyone will receive money to put in their pockets; that's important given that the vast majority of the league isn't making as much as Irving. Rivers suggests players can then use those funds to help support the Black Lives Matter movement and other charitable organizations working to dismantle oppressive systems.

In relation to the topic of financials, the league could additionally tear up the current collective bargaining agreement if the players sit out, putting next season in serious jeopardy.

Rivers mentions that the majority of NBA players are African American, as well as many of the league's consumers, and playing would be a welcome distraction. To be specific, Rivers believes that keeping some kids indoors could be beneficial "[due] to the unfair and unequal environments a lot of African-American kids are placed in."

While he does support Irving's devotion to the Black Lives Matter movement, Rivers joins a significant group of other players who prefer to play basketball this summer.