The NBA on Tuesday said it would not schedule any basketball games on November 8, Election Day in the US, when Americans will head to the polls for the 2022 midterms.
The league, which will announce its 2022-23 schedule on Wednesday, said the decision was made to promote voter participation.
“The NBA today announced that no games will be played on Election Day, Tuesday, November 8, 2022,” a released statement said.
“The scheduling decision came out of the NBA family’s focus on promoting non-partisan civic engagement and encouraging fans to make a plan to vote during midterm elections.”
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Sotheby's estimates Michael Jordan's jersey will fetch $3-5 million. Sotheby's / AFP -
Jordan is co-owner of 23XI Racing with Yvette Prieto. Getty Images / AFP -
Jordan's 1984-85 rookie year jersey was auctioned off at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California in June. EPA -
Jordan now owns the Charlotte Hornets basketball team. AP -
Jordan during the Chicago Bulls Eastern Conference Finals game, on May 25, 1996 in Orlando, Florida. AP -
Jordan holds the NBA Championship trophy aloft after the Chicago Bulls' win against the Los Angeles Lakers at Inglewood, California. AP -
Jordan sports a six-shaped diamond earring for his six NBA championships. AP -
Jordan celebrates after the Bulls beat the Phoenix Suns 99-98 to win their third consecutive NBA title. AP -
Jordan is surrounded by Comiskey Park security as he arrives at the Berto Centre in Deerfield, Illinois to announce his retirement from professional basketball in 1993. AP -
Jordan with Bulls team owner Jerry Reinsdorf at his retirement day press conference. AP -
Jordan watches Roger Federer during his match against Marinko Matosevic at the US Open in New York. Getty Images
Teams from across the league will also make an effort to educate fans on their state's voting process and voter registration deadlines.
On November 7, all 30 teams will play as part of a “civic engagement night” and “share important voting information from our partners”.
The NBA has taken steps to use its platform to encourage engaging in political activism in recent years, notably in 2020, when protests erupted across the US over the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor.
Bloomberg contributed to this report
