The Daily Show: Ears Edition - NBA Players Give Back

Episode Date: December 22, 2020

Trevor talks to NBA players whose off-court efforts help to address inequity and improve lives, from LeBron James's educational youth outreach to Steph Curry's fight against food insecurity. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. When 60 Minutes premiered in September 1968, there was nothing like it. This is 60 Minutes. It's a kind of a magazine for television. Very few have been given access to the treasures in our archives. But that's all about to change. Like none of this stuff gets looked at. That's what's incredible. I'm Seth Done of CBS News. Listen to 60 Min Like, none of this stuff gets looked at. That's what's incredible. I'm Seth Done of CBS News. Listen to 60 Minutes, a second look, starting September 17th, wherever you get your podcasts.

I'm just going to go straight into this because it was probably one of the most amazing things I've seen. This is you and some of your friends at the ESPs. Okay. Let's use this moment as a call to action for all professional athletes to educate ourselves. Explore these issues. Speak up. Use our influence and renounce all violence. And most importantly, go back to our communities. Invest our time, our resources, help rebuild them, help strengthen them, help change them.

We all have to do better. Powerful words. Powerful words. You're an NBA superstar. Why do you feel you need to say something like that in a sports forum? It just comes natural to me. And for me personally, I know where I come from, you know, growing up in inner city in Akron, Ohio, and I know the challenges that kids have.

And for our society to become as great as it should, I think it starts from the ground up and it starts in our communities, our own communities, going back to our communities, using our resources, using our knowledge. You know, anybody can lend money or anybody can go give an appearance. But I think actually being there and them seeing you, it gives the kids hope and without the kids, we have no future.

So it just comes natural to me and I understand what they go through. I walk the same streets as them. I breathe the same areas as those kids. I know what they go through growing up in tough situations. So I think it's very important for all of us. You got into wheels for education. I mean, that was really your first foray into this independently. You didn't have a way to get to school when you were a kid. You struggled getting to school, and so you started a program to help kids out.

And now you start with third graders. Why third graders specifically? Well, between myself and my office and everyone at my foundation, there was, we read upon it and the statistics show that if kids get behind in the third grade, then it's the least amount of chance for them to graduate high school. And so that's why we started in third grade. And yesterday was my LeBron James Family Foundation reunion where we welcome another third grade class into our program.

And this is our sixth year now. Wow. So and thank you. It's our sixth year and it was unbelievable. If anybody has ever come to Ohio and been to the great Cedar Point Amusement Park, I brought 5,000 families yesterday to the amusement park for our reunion. Wow. I think it's fascinating that you say get involved and actively get involved because you do something that is honestly the meanest and most amazing thing ever. You record messages for these kids to inspire them.

So for those who don't know, LeBron James records messages and sends them out to these kids. So if they're not like at school, then you'll get a message from LeBron James. Do you not understand how heartbreaking that is? Like does it, what do you say? What do you say in the call? Well if you don't, if you miss school, they will get a phone call and say hey, listen, you're very important to your classroom and you're very important to your

family and we need you in school. If you're not doing well in school. If you're not doing well in school, I say, well, listen, we need you to read the books, we need you to stay in the classroom and listen to your teachers. And there's also times because I know kids, they were trying to get slick and try to miss a couple days of school. Because they want the message from LeBron James. So I'll show back the message from LeBron James. So I'll I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I'll I I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll I'll their their their their their their to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their, I know what you're trying now. I was the key at one point to. This is like the best guidance counselor in life ever. You better stop messing around. LeBron James is going to show up and that's just so, it's a beautiful story. You're also helping these kids, not just in third grade, but you're trying to get everyone through to a college education. Yeah, we, it's funny because I partnered with their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their th. It's their th. It's to to to to to to to to to to to to to get to get to to to to to to to to to to to to be to be to be to be. to be. to to to to to to to to to get to get to get to get to get to get to get to get. to get. to be. to to be. to be. to be. to be. to be. to be. to be. to to be. to to to be. their. their. their their their their their their their tr. their their their their their their their their their their tooes. toe. to. to. to. to. college education. Yeah, it's funny because I partnered with the University of Akron a few years back and if our kids, and the criteria is very attainable, if our kids can get from the third grade and graduate through high school, then there's a college scholarship waiting on them. It's just a full ride.

Just waiting a lot. I, uh, I have a hunch that you do that. Is that part of the guilt maybe that you have because, uh, no I mean, there's probably kids out there come up to you and gone, hey LeBron, I was going to go straight from high school to the NBA, but you shut that down, so now I've got to go to college. Is that why you did it? I've had kids say, well, well, you, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, well, you, you, you, you, that, that, that, that that that that that that that that that that that that that that, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I've that, I've that, I've thi, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I've that, I that, I that, I thi, I thi, I thi, I thi, I'm thi, I'm thi, I'm thi, I'm thi, I'm thi, I'm thi, I'm thi, I'm thi, I've tha, I've tha, tha', I've tha', I've tha'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a'a, I've tha, I'm tha, but you shut that down, so now I've got to go to college. Is that why you did it? I've had kids say, well, Mr. James, you want us to go to college, but I read something about you, you didn't go. And I thought it was practices which you preach, and I was like, well, back then when I had an opportunity, I'm a lot older than you, college.

College, they didn't have college when I came out of high school. Oh, man, before we go to a break, one of the most innovative things that you do, honestly blew me away is, you're not just providing education for the kids, you have a program where you help parents get a GED. Yeah, absolutely. It's funny you say.

And, you know, Trevor, it's funny you said you said you said you said you said you said you said you said you said you said, you said, you said, you said, you said, you said, you said, you said, you Trevor, it's funny you said, because as much as we want to hit home on the kids, what happens in their household means a lot as well. So, you know, I have all my kids that's looked after, I have mentors that look after them, I have high school kids that look after my kids as well. But when they go home, they have to have someone else they look up to as well. And sometimes, you know, you have a lot of parents that's not educated as well. So we've given an opportunity for parents in these households that didn't graduate

high school to get an opportunity to graduate, get a GED as well. So they can feel like, you know, parents do they work, do they work, they feel like, listen, we all empowered. It's pretty cool that we that we're what we're that we're that we're that we're that we're that we're that we're that we're that we're able to do. When you look at that journey and when you look at what you want to do now in both Chicago and Miami, you have a few initiatives that you're working on now. What is your dream? What are you trying to implement in the communities to try and help people? So when I was a little kid, you know, I just remember, you know, always saying to myself, if God bless me with an opportunity to make it,

right? To be able to give back to others, I want to do it, I want to do it in a big way. You know, I want to be able to bless communities in a way that's going to change their lives. If I get that opportunity, I wanted to live right, you know what, my, here's a church. You do your part with the church? I bought my mom a church early on, so she can continue to save lives and change lines. I bought your mama church. I bought my mama church. That's a whole nother story, how we got to that point.

But I end up at my mom a church and I said, you do your job to save lives. You know, my mother is the the the the the the to to to the to to to to to the the to to to to their to to their to to their their to to ca, their mom, their mom, to camo, to continue their mom, I their mom, their their mom, I their, I'm their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their to save, I, I, I to save, I'm to save, I'm tomorrow, I comme, I comme, train, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, tomorrow, to coomorrow, to coomorrow, to coomorrow, to save, I to save lives. My mother is an amazing pastor in the city of Chicago. My dad, my dad is into the community. My dad does amazing. That's where I got it from. I watched my dad for so many years, give back to the community. You had me out there as a kid. Even though we didn't have a lot,

the things we had, we had to give. If I had two pair of shoes, I I I I I I I I I I I I I I gave the other pair of ways. So I kind of had a family that I watched my whole life, kind of make sure they give. And we didn't have a lot. We didn't have a lot at all, but what we had was more than what others had. And so we wanted to make sure that we can, you know, we can give it to others. So it kind of started from there. And then, when I got to to their their their their to to to to get to get to college. And to college. And to college. And to college. And to college. And to college. And to college. And to college. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And to me me me. And to me me me. And to me me. And to me me. And to me me. And to me me me. And to me me me me me. And to me me me me me. And to me me me me me. And to me. And to me me. And to me. And to me. And to me. And to me. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And toe. And the the the toe. And the the toe. And the toe. And the the toe. And the the the toe. And the the the toe is required. And I know what he meant at the time. And then once I got old, I start understanding what that mean. I've been given so much, and a lot is required of me.

It's required of me. Not only to give from my pockets, but to lend my voice, to stand up on this platform and support, and things. That's something you haven't been afraid of doing. You know, there are a lot of athletes who have been afraid of lending their voice to causes that they believe in or people that they support. You know, your good friend and basically your brother, LeBron James is somebody that you've been on a journey with for many years where you've been speaking about issues. Yeah.

We've seen you with the Parkland kid for instance, Parkland kids for instance. You spent three hours within the first day they came back to school. Why do you think, why do you think as an athlete, why do you think it's so important for you to step out from beyond the game and to engage in ideas that you believe in? Well, you know, going back to that, we was in Philadelphia when we heard the news about what happened. And I didn't know exactly where it was at. And immediately, as a parent, I got scared. Because I have kids in school. And I knew what area was in, but I didn't know which school.

So immediately I'm scared. I'm a hardest race. I'm beating fast. I'm the the the tired. tired. thired. thired. thired. thired. thired. thired. thired. thired. thired. thired. thired. thin. thin. thin. thin. thin. thin. thin. thin. thin. thin. I'm thi. thi. thi. thi. I'm, thi. I'm, thi. I'm, thi. I'm thi. I was, thi. I was, thi. I was, thi. I was thi. And, thi. And, thi. And, I was thi. And, I'm th... And, I'm th............... And, I'm th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th toeea. I'm th th toea. th th thea. thea. thea. thea. I was thea. And, thea trying to call my kids. And eventually, I got on the phone with my kids, and I realized that they was okay. But then I knew the other parents out there was hurting, was hurting the same way that I was heard, was feeling that same anxiety. So once we got a chance to come back to the city, it was just like, hey, can I go up to bring some sort of light. I had just got back to the city. The city of Miami had welcomed me back with open arms when I got traded back and I wanted to bring some light.

So I had an opportunity to go and I didn't know what to expect. It was real quiet when I got there but man when the kids saw me it just it opened them up, the light in their eyes, the smiles and their faces. That right there was one of the biggest, one's the most important moments in my life of, you know what, what basketball has done for me and the platform that I have, this is what it's about. And I got an opportunity to sit down in the room

with their leaders and talk to them about, what can the their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their tom. tom. tomk. tomk. tomk. It's, tomk. It's, tomorrow. I tomorrow. It's, tomorrow, tomorrow, what tha. thae, what tha. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm. I was. I was. what's. what's. what's. what's. what's. what's. what's. what's. what's. I was. I was. I was. I was. I was. I was. I was. I was. I'm. I'm. tomknononononononononon. ta. ta. ta. ta. ta. ta. ta. I'ma. I'ma. I'ma. I'ma. I'ma. I'ma. I'ma. I'ma. I'ma. I'ma. I guys' initiative, what you're trying to do? And it started from, you know what, my voice. Then it went from the support financially, and so forth and so on. And we continue to do things. We did exhibits here in Miami, in New York, in L.A. We continue to support, because this is my community. This is our community, and it of getting food to people who need it, getting equipment to kids who needed in schools, helping kids out with sports programs, etc. As soon as coronavirus hits, we saw Steph Curry in a way we've never seen him before.

You came out in full force with your foundation and yourself and your wife Aisha said, you know, we're going to help the kids. Tell us a little bit about what your foundation is doing right now. There's a lot of food insecurity right in our backyard. And so like you said myself and especially my wife, you know, we wanted to really formalize a strategy around how we can really amplify that impact. And so a year ago we started our Eat Learn Play Foundation. And I've been working really hard to get it off the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th th what the tho tho tho the f. tho tho tho th. th. th. their their their their their their their their their their their their their f. their f. their f. their f. the f. the f. th. th. started our Eat Learn Play Foundation and I've been working really hard to get it off the ground and running and get to work, not knowing that obviously, you know, coronavirus would hit and that would only just exaggerate the need at the base level from

you know, just having proper supplies for food, especially when the school systems shut down out here, the Oakland Unified School District, you don't realize how many kids rely on the school system for their meals throughout the week. And so thankfully we had a foundation set up that once you know coronavirus hit and we saw the need that we were already working on, you know, amplify, it was awesome to be able to kind of engage right away. and we saw the need that we were already working on, you know, amplify.

It was awesome to be able to kind of engage right away. And so many people helped us. We have an amazing team. We have an amazing support out here, but there's so many kids in need. And we've now provided over a million meals so far. And as we know, as this virus continues, that needs only going to continue to grow. So there's still more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more work work to work to work to work to work to work to work to be to be more more more to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be tooom. tooom. tooom. tooom. too continues, that knee is only going to continue to grow. So there's still more work to be done and more awareness and support that's necessary, but just grateful to be able to position to be able to help right away in a meaningful way. Your organization was all about helping the kids before the virus. You've always wanted to do something in a meaningful way, as you said,

but you've had to pivot really quickly to the new situation with coronavirus, you know, because you can't be in the schools the same way you were before. The kids aren't coming to the schools in the same way they were before. So what has your organization done to shift? It's, you know, it's a tech program, getting the food to the kids as opposed to getting the food, getting the right, their, their, to, to, to, their, to, to, their, to, to, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, their...e. And, their. And, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their.k.k.k.k.k.k.k. And, their. to get the food, getting the right people to get the food to them while still maintaining their health. What have you been forced to do? Absolutely. You see, you had to reimagine the process. With restaurants closing down, with schools closing down, all the infrastructure is kind of interrupted. And so from our standpoint, we really partnered with the Alameda County Community Food Bank, and they stepped up in a meaningful way to open up distribution centers so that those meals could be accessible to all the kids and families in the greater Oakland Bay area. So from week one or two around the third week of March to now, it was around two or three drop-off centers. Now we're up to 20. And with Jose Andres in the world central kitchen, their, their thirty. Tusc, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, th. We, th. We, th. We, th. We, th. We, th. We, th. We, th. We, th. We, th. We, th. We, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the third week of March to now, it was around two or three drop-off centers,

now we're up to 20. And with Jose Andres in the World Central Kitchen, they're stepping in to try to reopen restaurants to serve as distribution centers. And that obviously provides a lot of different benefits. We're getting food and meals where they need to be. People know where to go to get the meals. But, but the to the to, but the the to, but the to, but the to the to to to the to their, but to to their, but their, but their, but their, their, their, their, their, their, theymea, their, their, theymea, their, their, the, the, the, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their. Ande. Ande. Ande. Ande. Ande. Ande. And, theyyymea, theymea, thea, theananananananananananeteer.oomorrow, toea, their, their, the meals. But on top of that, you need a workforce and a manpower to do that. And so for the restaurants that we can engage with, that creates jobs.

And so, like you said, nothing that you do is by yourself. We're just having to be in an amazing position to be able to connect the dots. Food insecurities have been happening for forever. So system, So system thingsthat we're trying to deal with and just a history of that, but with the virus it only exacerbates that for sure. It feels like the NBA and many of its players have stepped up in a really powerful and unique way. I remember the shock when the NBA announced that they were suspending the season. I mean, nobody thought it would happen. And then very quickly we started to hear that that that the the th th that th th that th th th that th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th thi thi thi thi thi thi the v the virus the virus the virus the virus that, but the virus thi thi th th that, but th th that, but that, but thi that, but thiouris. But, but that, but the virus but the virus but the virus but the virus but the virus but the virus but the v the v the v the v the v the v the v the v the v the v the v the v the v the v the v the v. the thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. their their the shock when the NBA announced that they were suspending the season. I mean nobody thought it would happen and then very quickly we started to hear stories about how many people who worked in these arenas wouldn't have a job and you were one of the first players who stepped up and said hey I'm going to give my own personal money to help pay for

these people salaries and then the owners started stepping in, other players did as well. Why did you feel it was so important for you to do that and how did you get everybody mobilizing? What was the attitude of the NBA? Yeah, well it was about, I guess Wednesday would be three weeks, you know, since that night in Oklahoma City when it was the jazz versus a OKC. And, and you you know, I woke up the next day just just thinking about, you know, kind of like I mentioned, the stress and anxiety of this time and not knowing when or if these people and these families are going to be able to put food on their table. I mean, a lot of these people are living paycheck to paycheck. And these are people that are part of not only my the the the the the the the the the the the the the paycheck to paycheck and these are people that are a part of not only my story but the Cavs organization and you start to develop a first-name basis and first-name relationship with

these with these people and start to you know ask about their family and you see them when you come into the arena see when you leave the arena. So I thought it was important to just take care of people that have taken care of me so long and they're part of my story, honestly, on and off the floor. Yeah, human beings are resilient, but you're right. Everybody needs help getting through it, especially now. One of the things I've always appreciated about you is how open you've been in discussing anxiety, depression, you know, opening up that conversation in the NBA, and then getting people more comfortable

speaking about how to deal with these issues in society. Coronavirus has presented a completely unique challenge for many people who suffer from anxiety or even depression where many of your circles are removed from you. Many people don't have the networks that keep them mentally as healthy as they'd like to be. What have you been doing during this period and what advice would you give people out there who go, Kevin, I'm not coping and it feels like this is triggering everything that gets me to the place I don't want to be in?

Well, I know I can say it right back at you. I got to tip the hat because I know that you know, this mental health has been a part of your story as well. So just, you know, continuing to create community in that aspect. I think that's a huge thing during this time. You know, people will look back, you know, they're not gonna look back on their deathbed and say, hey, I wish I would would would would have I would have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have have a that, you that's a that's a that's a that's a huge, you that's a huge, you that's a huge, you know, you know, have more fame. They're going to say, you know, that those relationships are really what brought them joy and happiness. So I feel like that sense of community, especially since I had shared my story, I'm sure it's,

you know, the same for you, especially with your book that, you know, a lot of people came out, you know, in droves and large and large and large and large and large and large and large and large and large and large and large, and large, and large, and large, and large, and large, and large, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, their, their, their, their, th no, th no, th no, th no, threes, thi, thrown, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th. and, th. and, th. and, th.. and, th... and, th.... and, th.. and, th..... and, the, the the their, their, the the their, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, the the the the the the th. And, thr. thr. thr. thr. toee. toe. thr. thr. thr. thr. thr. thr. And, th. And, th. And, th of the things that they had gone through and things that they had experienced, whether it be, you know, first hand or somebody, you know, just removed from their inner circle because we're it, we all have people that go through stuff and we all grieve and deal with loss at one point or another, another, but this social isolation has been, speaking and navigating this time very different. I had done a panel with Yanist the, you the, you the, you the, you thi thi thi thi thi thianist thianist thianist thian thian thi. Yan thi. Yan thi. Yan, you, you, you thi, you know, you know, you know, you know, you thi, you, thi, thi, you know, you're thi, you thi, you thi, you th. thi, you thi, you thi, you thi, you thi, you th. th. th. th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th. th. th. th. th. thi, you thi, you thi, you thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi, thi, time, very, very different. I had done it at MBA All-Star, I'd done a panel with Janus and Chris Paul, Mike Wilbon and President Obama, and he had brought something up to me that it's such a social issue, like during this time, especially when it comes to mental health and depression and anxiety, that it's the isolation and it's the loneliness that is so devastating during this time. And I, that really stuck with me when he said that because I think that's sometimes lost

on people and I'm fortunate to have a lot of great friends in my life and be able to talk with people like you that can scale up this message and, you know, allow people to, you know, further these conversations. But that loneliness part of it is, is, is, is, you, you, you, you, you, is, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, is, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, is, you, you, is, you, you, is, you, you, you, you, you, is, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you know, is, that, that, that, you, you, you, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, is, that, that, is, that, that, is, that, that, that, that, that, you that, you know, that, that, that, you know, that, that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that, that that, that, that, that that that can scale up this message and allow people to further these conversations, but that loneliness part of it is very, very scary. And I think it's important for people to know it's normal to feel this way. When 60 Minutes premiered in September 1968, there was nothing like it. This is 60 Minutes. It's a kind of a magazine for television. Very few have been given access to the treasures in our archives.

Really? But that's all about to change. Like none of this stuff gets looked at. That's what's incredible. I'm Seth Done of CBS News. Listen to 60 Minutes, a second look, starting September 17th, wherever you get your podcasts. We're here because I wanted to talk to you about the NBA strike and the reason for the NBA strike. Now I'm sure everybody knows about this, but for those who don't know, the NBA players went on strike and the games were postponed after what happened in Kenosha. And it was really inspiring and also sad to see, you know, the players standing up and saying,

we can't do this anymore in Doc. We played a few of your comments, so I'll start with you. What do you think has made this moment in time so different? Why do you think these protests have really changed not just sports, but our everyday lives? Because these protests, the games have always gone on through th............... their, their, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, tho, tho, tho, tho, their, tho, their, their, their, their, their, their, the, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, th......... And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. to, to, to, to, to, to, toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. the the the the the the the the the their, their, the. the game stopped. You know, the games have always gone on through all these different things that have happened. George Floyd's murders, the game murdered, the game kept going, right? In this case, the game stopped.

The players literally need to take a breath. And like I said earlier, it's not lost on me that George Floyd was never afforded to take that breath. And doing that, that they they they they they they they they they they they they were they were they were they were they were they were they were they were they were able they were able they were able they were able they were able they were able they were able they were able they were able they were able they were able their their their their theaughaugha. theaugha. theaugha. thea. thea. thea. thea. thea. thea. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. thea. thea. thea. thea. thea. thea. thea. theea. thea. thea. thea. afforded to take that breath, but our players did. And doing that, they were able to refocus and come up with tangible things that they wanted to do. You know, it's so many people that protest. But this time, we came out with tangible items that the NBA, the owners and the players wanted to do. And so that's what makes this so different.

Do you find as someone who works so closely with the players, that a lot of the players might struggle even more to deal with what's happening? Because now it's almost an outside world. They're in a bubble. They're seeing this happening. They're away from their families. Do you think that also added to them saying, hey, we're not in the mood to go dunk a basketball right now. We have to focus on what's happening

in America. Yeah, because usually when something like this happens, you're with your families, you can comfort your kids. You can try to explain to them what's going on in America or in that city. They were not able to do that. In some ways being in this bubble a lot a a a th w w w w w w w w w w w w w wa. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the. the. the. the. the. the. thee. theeea. theea. toeeeea. theeea. theea. theeeea. thea. of work, but the players don't feel it. They don't see it. They don't know exactly what's going on. So I think in that way, you're exactly right. Steve, I know as an owner, you know, you've been one of the most vocal supporters of, you know,

police reform. You've been out there with the NBA saying, thinne. It is strange strange strange strange to strange strange strange strange strange strange to strange strange strange strange strange to toeee, you toeaaa. toea. thiiiiia, thia, thia, thia, thia, thia, thia, thia, thoomomomom guys something needs to be done. It is strange you have to admit though that you are the owner of an NBA team and people are expecting you and the league to fix something that should be dealt with by the government. Is that ever a strange situation? Do you feel like it's an unnecessary burden to have? I think about it a little bit different. I don't know how to speak to the whole league but I do know know know thua thua to know thua to thia thia to thia to the to thia the th. the the to the th. to the their their their their their their to their. I to to to to to to to their their. their. I to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to their their their their their their their their their their their their their their. I'm their. I'm their their. I'm their the their their. I'm their their. I'm their their the the the the the the the the the the the the the te.ea.ea. tea. toe. toe. Ie. I'm toe. I'm toe. I'm toe. I'm their to speak to the whole league, but I do know we have players, people like me, who are citizens. And getting out there, using our voices, supporting, I mean, that's the American way.

You get out and you have people proposing bills like the Justice and Policing Act, the George Floyd bill. Great, there's a lot of good stuff in it. Let's make sure that the House and the Senate come together. I'm just a citizen on this one. I have something of a voice. Our players even have a louder voice. And, you know, that happens. That's not about basketball, that's about democracy.

You've been instrumental in pushing the players, though, and giving them a platform to speak. What are some some some some some some some some some some some some some some some some some some some the the the the the the the the th th th th th th th th th th th th th things things thinks thinks thinks thinks thinks thinks thinks thoes thoes the the the thoesoes, thoes, thoes, thoes, thoes, thoes, thoes, their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their, their, the, giving them a platform to speak. What are some of the things you've learned from the players in these conversations that maybe you weren't fully aware of before they started? Well, certainly I've had an opportunity to hear from our players. Doc and I did a great meeting with the team, a couple of meetings with the team, couple of meetings with the team, about the kinds of things that are on people's minds.

I don't have the lived experience of growing up black in the United States. The whole fear of police stops and what those mean and where they go and the importance of really being able to have higher levels of accountability so that that is a system that and an approach that works fairly for all Americans. I get that out of our discussion. When we talk with the guys, what really helped shape their lives? It's these mentorship programs and teachers and maybe not shocks but really made vivid to me by the conversations we've had. Doc Rivers, some of the fans of the NBA may say, why can't the guys just play the game and leave politics out of it?.................. the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, when, the, when, when, the, when we, the, the, when we're, their, when we're, their, when we, their, when we're, when we're, when, when, when, when, when, when we're, when we're, when we the, when we their, when we their, when we their, when we their, when we their, when we their, when we their, when we their, when we their, when we their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, they, they, they, they, they, they, they-I's, they-I's, they-I's, they.I's, their, their, the me by the conversations we've had. Doc Rivers, some of the fans of the NBA may say,

why can't the guys just play the game and leave politics out of it? They may be big fans of yours and the Clippers. How would you respond to those fans? Well, first of all, we are playing the games. You know, we stop, but we are going to play, and so we're doing that. But wea th th th th th th th th. th. tho tho tho tho thu thu. thi thu. thu. thi thi thi thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. tho, tho, thi. thi. thi. the tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. to to toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. to, and I think I got this from you, you know, politics are part of our lives, our daily lives.

And so if you don't get involved with it, it's going to get involved with you. Also, some of these are politics, some of these are human rights issues. You know, I think we think human rights issues are politics and it's not what's right and what's wrong and we should all speak up. And our players tha our players tha our players tha our players tha tha tha. tha. tha. tha. thi thiers thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. to to to to to to to be to be to be to bea. to bea. to bea. to bea. to, to bea. to bea. to bea. to bea. to bea. to bea. to bea. to be. to be. to be. to be. to be. Wea. Wea. Wea. Wea. to be. to be. to be. to be. to be. to. to. toe. to. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. toeananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananananan. toea right and what's wrong. And we should all speak up. And our players have decided. It's not our burden to do everything, right? But it's our responsibility to get involved because we want to. And there's nothing wrong with that. And I love that our guys are doing it.

And I think they're doing it in a sensational way. What is the league doing right now? Because it was really interesting and nail-biting to watch it all unfold. You know, we heard that there was possibly going to be a strike, then there was a strike, then the question was, was the season going to be canceled? And then we heard that the NBA was taking some concrete steps. What are some of those steps, Doc, and how got together, had a long talk over a lot of issues and and they came to the owners and the owners are the partners. You know, one of the things I want to clear out the word boycott, well, we were not boycotting the NBA or the players were not. It was more a protest

about what was going on because you don't boycott your partners, you know, your friends. And so that's what made this so neat is because the owners and the players got together and they formed a partnership in what they want to do. We're forming a coalition, a justice coalition where we're going to talk about voting, individual rights. You know, I love the fact that we're going to get arenas involved, registration, voter suppression, all these things. We're also going to form a group with this coalition to fight just single things. The George Floyd bill, it's on the house.

It's sitting on the Senate floor, and you and I know it'll probably sit there for a while, but that's where voting comes back in. So I just think what the players did and the owners did, they pledge that they're gonna support each other and create this coalition, is just fantastic. When you said these things and when you stood up for black Americans, was it similar to

what people say today about NFL athletes taking the knee? It was the same exact thing. They wanted to change the subject because they didn't like to talk about the fact that too many black Americans end up dead for no good reason at the hands of police. And they didn't want to talk about that issue because it's troubling. It means that there's something wrong with some of our police forces, the way they're trained, et cetera.

So most people don't want to talk about that. That's a very intense and difficult problem to solve. But it's something we have to solve. As a black American, we want it solved now because it's our kids that are being shot down in the street. And that's very troublesome and we want to change that. And we've got to keep fighting until people understand that and help us change it in a positive way.

And you truly are trying to do it in a positive way. You inspire people, you speak to them, you, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, to, to, to, the, the, to, the, the, and to, and the, and the, and to, the, to, to, to, to, to, and they. And, to, and tooomorrow, and tooomorrow, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and to, and they. And, and they. And, and, and, and they. And, and, and, and so. And, and so. So. So. So. So. So. So. they. they. they. they. they. they. tooomorrow, tooomorrow, tooomorrow, tooomorrow, tooomorrow, tooomorrow, and tooomorrow, and tooomorrow, and tooomorrow, and tooomorrow, and, and speak to them, you write columns about this. There are still people who are vehemently opposed to some of the things that you say. Have you found that there's been a change? Have you found a way to breakthrough to people in the time that, I mean, because you've been doing this for a very long time, as you said, your career ended and then you go, where breakthrough in any way? I found a lot of breakthroughs. Look at President Obama could not have been elected without that type of breakthrough. Right. Without people being able to see him for his character and his positive attributes and and not being upset about the color of his skin or that is his ancestry goes back to Africa. Right. That should not be an issue. It should be the content of his character and what he wants to do for America. So, you know we, we get that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that the the the break th th th th the break th th the break th threat th threat threat the threat the the the the the the the the the the theateateate the the the the type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type type th. Right th. Right th. Right th. Right th. Right th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. We th. th. We th. th. the, we theat, we threat. threat. threat. threat. threat. threat. threate. threat. threat. threat. threat. threat. threat. the. the. the. back to Africa. That should not be an issue. It should be the content of

his character and what he wants to do for America. So, you know, we get that mentality and we get that idea out to people. Maybe they can see that black Americans are actually their fellow citizens and we want the same thing that they want. You've lived through many of the most painful periods in American history for black Americans and for Americans I would argue. I didn't know this about you but when you were 10 years old Emmettil was 10 years old. He was 13. When you were a young boy Emmettil was basically around the same age. Right. You were experiencing America in a similar way that he was. You get older and you got an opportunity, you had an opportunity to interview Martin Luther King, I believe it was for a journalist experience.

And then you were around with Martin Luther King was assassinated. Yes, I want. How do you prevent yourself from only being angry, from only seeing the world is against you when you have experienced so many traumas as an African-American? Well we also have to look at the good side of things and a whole lot of good things have happened. The Voting Rights Act, the Civil Rights Act, the fact that people are starting to understand how corrosive and horrible white supremacy can be on people who are not white. They don't get it all the time.

They think everything is fine for everybody. When we can point out in very valid and explicit ways, how that's not working and we have to make this democracy that works for everyone, people get that because everybody wants to be treated fairly. Right. And black Americans are no different. And if white Americans can see a way to understand that, we're going to make a lot of progress in a short period of time. The Daily Show with Cover Noa, Ears Edition.

Watch the Daily Show week nights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central and the Comedy Central app. Watch full episodes and videos at the Daily Show. to the Daily Show and Instagram and subscribe to the Daily Show on YouTube for exclusive content and more. When 60 Minutes premiered in September 1968, there was nothing like it. This is 60 Minutes. It's a kind of a magazine for television. Very few have been given access to the treasures in our archives. But that's all about to change.

Like none of this stuff gets looked at. That's what's incredible. I'm Seth Done of CBS News. Listen to 60 Minutes, a second look, starting September 17th, wherever you get your podcasts. This has been a Comedy Central Podcast.