Many players have decided to show unity by interlocking arms with their teammates during the national anthem in recent months, but the New York Knicks and Houston Rockets took things a step on Tuesday night.
Players from both teams decided before their preseason game that they would interlock with one another — not just their own teammates.
Knicks/Rockets stand together in unison for the National Anthem. pic.twitter.com/LY2Ml7LddB
— Basketball Society (@BBallSociety_) October 5, 2016
Joakim Noah, who was out with a hamstring injury, said he contacted Rockets stars James Harden and Corey Brewer before the exhibition.
“It was definitely about two teams coming together,” Noah said, per Marc Berman of the New York Post. “We understand there are issues in this country and we wanted to show solidarity that we’re all in this together.”
Carmelo Anthony had previously said the Knicks would decide what to do during the national anthem as a team, and he was glad the Rockets wanted to take part.
“We’re united,” Anthony said. “[The Rockets] were on board with it. It shows to everybody we’re united.”
Though he says he was not doing it as a form of protest, Noah made an even bigger statement recently when he decided to skip a team dinner because of his anti-war views.
