>> LeBron James, and like the Warriors, Steph Curry have used those platforms to take on
social injustice.
>> I mean, they're NBA players, I'm around them all the time.
I'm much more curious of what you have to say about them than any NBA player, or any
famous person in Hollywood.
They're probably the last people on earth that I would ask their opinion of political
views.
>> This is now former Boston Celtics GM Danny Ainge, telling black NBA players their opinions
of being black in America equates to nothing.
>> Thoughts with the season approaching, how are you feeling about this right now?
>> I think Governor Romney will do wonderful as the President of United States.
>> When asked about a question of the upcoming NBA season, he turns to politics.
>> I think Gregg Popovich has earned my trust as a fan and a person that knows him and has
been around him.
As has Steve Kerr, who is also vocal, is another guy that I really like as a person.
I don't like all their opinions, but I do respect their opinions.
>> I find this particularly interesting, here's why.
>> Their self-interest, their greed, their lust for power outweighs their love of country
or their sense of duty to the Constitution, or to public service.
>> Take Spurs Head Coach Gregg Popovich, who Ainge invoked.
>> In the history of our nation from the very beginning, in many ways was a lie.
>> Pop has a lot to say to the press.
>> The president, because instead of unifying and trying to calm the storm, he's creating
it over and over and we see it with his tweets every day.
>> He also praised Steve Kerr.
What do all three of these men have in common?
Don't look too hard or overthink it, Ainge values the opinions of white men.
>> Like I said, Steve Kerr and Popovich yeah, listening to them.
But there's not very many players that I really care what they have to say about that are
influencing me in any way, or any aspect of life.
>> Ainge was asked of Steph and LeBron, and he purposely brought up two Caucasian coaches.
This is just about as poor as it gets for an executive like Danny Ainge, who has been
in the Boston Celtics, his front office since 2003.
>> And I'm just looking forward to competing with my teammates.
And hopefully we could just keep it strictly basketball.
There's no belligerents or any racism going on, subtle racism and people yelling from
the crowd.
>> When Brooklyn Nets star and former Celtic Kyrie Irving said this prior to Game 3, Danny
Ainge responded with an even more tone deaf remark.
I never heard any of that from any player that I've ever played with in my 26 years
in Boston.
Maybe you just don't have those conversations, or you don't care to, Danny.
Tristan Thompson, who played with Kyrie in Cleveland, explained what he went through
as a visitor.
When asked by Boston Globe reporter Gary Washburn, if he, quote, had heard anything racial during
your time coming in as a Cav, Thompson said, yeah, of course, definitely.
I've definitely heard guys say some crazy stuff.
Add Tristan Thompson to the list of people Danny Ainge apparently has not spoken to,
wrote longtime NBA writer Kurt Hellman.
Marcus Smart, a member of the Celtics since he was drafted out of Oklahoma State in 2014,
said of Celtics fans, yeah, I've heard a couple of them.
It's kind of sad and sickening.
Even though it's an opposing team, we've had guys on your home team, that you're saying
these racial slurs, and you expect us to go out here and play for you.
It's tough.
Add Marcus Smart to that list as well.
Black players have been the target of racism in Boston for decades.
Bill Russell, who helped the Celtics win 11 championships, once referred to Boston as
a, quote, flea market of racism.
Robert Parish who played in Boston for 14 seasons and won 3 titles, has also spoken
about being racially taunted.
In baseball, Ben Owes, outfielder Adam Jones and should-be Hall of Famer Torii Hunter brought
the issue to the forefront, saying they both experienced racism when playing in Boston
at Fenway Park.
Hunter even included a no-trade clause to Boston in his contract.
It tells you something.
DeMarcus Cousins was racially abused by a Celtics fan, with Boogie citing the floor
in an interview with Yahoo Sports' Chris Hayes.
The fact is while Ainge's stance is that he's never heard from players in the past that
they've experienced racism at TD Garden, that doesn't mean it's not happening.
Danny Ainge showed exactly what white privilege is today.
He's played with multiple players who have experienced racism in Boston, and is also
the GM for another era of players who have also experienced racism.
But because it doesn't affect him, he hasn't noticed it, and is ignorant.