Pope Francis meets the union delegation of NBA players in the Vatican

A delegation representing the National Basketball Players Association, a union representing professional athletes from the NBA, met with Pope Francis and spoke with him about their work in promoting social justice.

The players association said the group that met the pope on November 23 included: Marco Belinelli, San Antonio Spurs shooting guard; Sterling Brown and Kyle Korver, shooting guards for the Milwaukee Bucks; Jonathan Isaac, Orlando Magic forward; and Anthony Tolliver, a 13-year-old forward who is currently a free agent.

The NBPA said the meeting "provided an opportunity for players to discuss their individual and collective efforts to address the social and economic injustice and inequality that occur in their communities."

NBA players have been talking about social justice issues throughout the year, especially after George Floyd's shocking death by police officers in May sparked massive protests in the United States.

Before resuming basketball season following its suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the union and the NBA reached an agreement to display social justice messages on their jerseys.

Michele Roberts, executive director of the NBPA, said in a November 23 statement that the meeting with the pope "validates the power of the voices of our players."

“The fact that one of the most influential leaders in the world tried to have a conversation with them demonstrates the influence of their platforms,” said Roberts, who was also present at the meeting. "I remain inspired by the ongoing commitment of our players to serve and support our community."

According to ESPN, union officials said an "intermediary" for the pope approached the NBPA and informed them of Pope Francis' interest in their efforts to bring attention to issues of social justice and economic inequality.

Korver said in a statement that the association was "extremely honored to have had the opportunity to come to the Vatican and share our experiences with Pope Francis" and that "the pope's openness and enthusiasm to discuss these themes has been a source of inspiration and reminds us that our work has had a global impact and must continue to move forward “.

"Today's meeting was an incredible experience," said Tolliver. "With the Pope's support and blessing, we are thrilled to face this upcoming season invigorated to continue pushing for change and bringing our communities together."