Nets players to decide on anthem gesture — or not — before preseason opener

Members of the Brooklyn Nets wrap their arms around each... — Members of the Brooklyn Nets wrap their arms around each other during the singing of the national anthem before the preseason game against the Boston Celtics at TD Garden on October 17, 2016. Credit: Getty Images / Maddie Meyer

By Greg LoganGregory.Logan@newsday.com GregLogan1October 2, 2017

Before the Nets open preseason play against the Knicks on Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden, they plan to meet as a team to decide on whether or not to make some sort of political gesture during the National Anthem.

“We’re definitely going to nail down something and try to do something collectively as a group,” DeMarre Carroll said following Monday’s practice.

Coach Kenny Atkinson said the organization will support whatever the players decide to do, but the Nets’ organization expects them to follow NBA rules, which require players to stand during the playing of the anthem. Several NFL players have knelt during the playing of the anthem to protest police shootings, and some teams knelt as a group prior to the anthem and then stood when it was played.

“We haven’t come out with a statement, but I think our idea is, however our players approach this, I want them to be unified,” Atkinson said. “We want them to follow the NBA rules. That’s important to us, and I think our guys understand that. They’re going to talk about it. I’m not sure exactly what they’ll do, but they will have my support. We have a really diverse group that understands it needs to be a unified message amongst them.”