OKC Thunder: Jerami Grant focuses on Breonna Taylor in his media session

Former OKC Thunder big man Jerami Grant initiates the social justice messaging in his media session

At one time Jerami Grant looked like a solid future chip in the OKC Thunder core. But when Paul George requested a trade and was eventually sent to the Clippers and Russell Westbrook traded to the Rockets shortly after Sam Presti traded Grant to the Nuggets.

This week the former OKC Thunder big man Jerami Grant was leading news cycles based on his virtual media interview comments. Being in the spotlight hasn’t been a frequent experience for the power forward with any of his teams.

Grant began his career with the 76ers prior to his trade to the OKC Thunder and now plays for the Denver Nuggets. In each of the three locations, there has always been a teammate who ranked ahead of Grant in terms of star power and athletic ability.

When he was traded to the Nuggets Grant himself seemed to think he’d be getting more opportunities on the offensive end given the ball movement offense.

As T.I. noted recently, however, his desires haven’t necessarily been recognized as he’s playing behind power forward Paul Millsap. Coupled with the rise of young talent Michael Porter Jr., it’s meant Grant isn’t getting the minutes or perhaps the recognition he was hoping for.

Grant is among several free agents that will receive long hard looks from teams in the bubble and his performance will undoubtedly determine his next contract.

Jerami Grant uses media session to focus on social justice message

This week it was his action via his words that were taking center stage. Following a practice session by the Nuggets, he was tapped to speak to the media and took the opportunity to focus on social justice. Grant specifically answered five questions making sure to bring the topic back to Beonna Taylor in his responses.

Taylor was killed in her Louisville, Kentucky home by police while she was in bed. Several plainclothes officers entered her home without advanced warning or knocking and shot her eight times. The police were at her apartment to serve a narcotics search warrant although no drugs were found.

The 26-year old black medical technician was working toward becoming a nurse and was beloved by family and friends who are outraged none of the officers have been arrested.

Grant adeptly navigated the questions asked and while he answered each one he tied them all back to Taylor.

For example:

"‘I think it’s imperative that we focus on what’s really important in the world. And, one thing for me is Breonna Taylor’s killers are still roaming around free, so I just want to focus on that with these interviews.There’s a lot going on in the world right now with police brutality and racism and things like that and I want to keep the focus on that. It’s great to have my teammates here, it’s great to be playing basketball but at the same time to keep the focus on what’s really important. Breonna Taylor’s murderer’s still are roaming around free."

His Nuggets coach Mike Malone praised Grant for using his platform to keep the focus on social justice. Malone said he ‘applauded Grant for using his entire session to dedicate it to the life and memory of Breonna Taylor.’

As per Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN Grant has elected not to put a message on the back of his shirt and will use any opportunity he has with media to replicate what he did in this session.

Grant noted he had attended protest marches and will continue to use his foundation ‘Hour Generation Foundation’ to give back to the community.

While many players cited their desire to make sure any return would include a focus on social injustices Grant is the first player of note who took advantage of his media session to do precisely that.

Many players aren’t happy with the pre-approved list of 29 messages they could put on their shirts. LeBron James noted he had something different in mind and wasn’t consulted. Some thought he would use the ‘Vote’ message given his efforts with ‘More Than A Vote’ but James had something else in mind.

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Toronto Raptors sniper Norman Powell spoke similarly in his media session stating he had wanted to use “Am I Next?”  However, since Powell is unable to use that message to make his statement like many will use “Black Lives Matter” instead.

In the OKC Thunder media sessions, most players have said they’ve selected ‘Equality’ or ‘Black Lives Matters’.

One note, although many players aren’t happy by being restricted by specific choices I wonder if the reason behind the limitation is so jerseys can be sold. Don’t take that as a definitive truth. I’m suggesting it as I wondered if unlimited messages would mean the jerseys couldn’t be easily replicated and sold.

Moving forward it’s likely many players will follow Grant’s lead. Kudos to Jerami for being the first to ensure his platform was used to keep the focus on social justice.