NBA commissioner Adam Silver had a clear social message at Wednesday’s Sports Business Awards.

“Do not stick to sports.”

Adam Silver urges peers to look beyond sports

The speech, given while accepting an award for the League of the Year, came on the same day that Milwaukee police released footage of police tackling and using a Taser on Bucks guard Sterling Brown over a parking violation while the NFL announced a controversial national anthem policy.

“There’s never been a time when sports has been more impactful on society than it is today,” Silver said. “Whether it’s issues affecting race and gender, health, mental wellness or technology and media, what we all do in this room matters day in and day out.

“And finally, I encourage all of you not to stick to sports. Do not stick to sports. Embrace it. Celebrate it. And let’s use it to build bridges and to bring people together.”

NBA looks forward on social issues

The NBA has been in the headlines a lot this year around issues not related directly to basketball. LeBron James famously responded to Fox News commentator Laura Ingraham’s diatribe against athlete activism by saying “we will definitely not ‘shut up and dribble.'”

Kings owner Vivek Ranadivé gave a unifying speech in response to protests at the team’s home arena over the police shooting of an unarmed Sacramento man.

And just on Wednesday, the Bucks made a strong statement standing by Brown and condemning the Milwaukee police in response to his arrest video.

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