A Life of Activism

A Q&A WITH BASKETBALL STARS MAYA MOORE AND CARMELO ANTHONY

- Rachel Sonis

WHEN NEWS BROKE OF GEORGE Floyd’s murder, athletes across the sports world stepped up. They participated in walkouts and protests, signaled their support for Black Lives Matter, and engaged in conversation about creating racial equity. WNBA star Maya Moore was working to free family friend Jonathan Irons, who spent 23 years in prison for a crime he did not commit, and used her platform to talk about the need for change. (Moore and Irons eventually married.) Meanwhile, Carmelo Anthony helped create the Social Change Fund United, a philanthropic effort to invest in organizations that support people of color. Five years later, the former basketball stars—both class of 2025 inductees of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame—reflect on that period in separate interviews and share insights about how sports can inspire younger generations to lead.

The sports world was one of the first industries that reckoned with what happened to George Floyd. What do you remember about that moment?

Carmelo Anthony: I think we understood the power of athletes’ voices. We had the opportunity to connect and stand side by side with one single message. The NBA did a good job of getting behind the players and allowing us to lead.