Grizzlies set to honor Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Monday marks the Grizzlies’ Sixth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Game and Celebration, and Grizzlies players are looking forward to honoring his legacy.
On Monday the Memphis Grizzlies will host the Sixth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Game and Celebration honoring Dr. King’s legacy. The game and the events surrounding it have become one of the highlights on the schedule every year.
And even though the Grizzlies’ roster is stocked with young players who in some cases were born almost 20 years after Dr. King’s death, being able to take part in the day while representing both the Grizzlies and Memphis is something that resonates with them.
“It means a lot to me to be playing on that day. I’ve always felt that it’s a day that everybody should recognize, and people should learn about him if they don’t know much about Martin Luther King and what he did for civil rights,” said rookie Michael Conley, who will be experiencing his first Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in Memphis. “It’s a big day for me, especially since it’s my first time in the NBA and being able to play on this day is an honor.”
Kyle Lowry didn’t have the opportunity play in last year’s game because of the wrist injury that curtailed his season after 10 games, but he was at FedExForum watching from the sidelines, and the experience has him looking forward to the opportunity to finally partake in the game.
“It’s a great day to pay tribute to a great man who did a lot of things for a lot of people,” he said. “It’s one of those days where you’re thankful for a person like that in the world.”
The lessons Dr. King imparted before his death have been passed down from generation to generation, and the young players on the Grizzlies are keenly aware of what he stood for. Family members, relatives and teachers have all played a part in making sure his lessons aren’t lost in the passage of time.
“He was someone who believed in something and stuck with it through all the adversity,” said Hakim Warrick. “He changed the culture and brought people together. He’s an icon to many people, as he should be. He’s someone who everybody should know about.”
“He was a great man who knew how to get his point across without being violent. He knew how to talk to people, he knew how to give great speeches, and he was a great motivator. He’s one of those people in the world where you think, ‘I wish I could be like him,’” added Lowry. “He had a lot of effect on a lot of people, like my grandmother, who was growing up in those times. It was tough but he gave people hope that there’s a better world out there.”
The lessons weren’t lost on Conley either, who admires Dr. King’s doctrines and teachings.
“The things he did were for everybody. He didn’t see two separate colors, he wanted everybody to be together and united,” he said. “Through adversity, discrimination and all the things that he went through, no matter what he was still the same person trying to bring this world together and bring America together and I think he did that.”
Get more information about the Sixth Annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Game and Celebration.
Purchase individual tickets to the game online, or you can purchase a Pepsi Family Value pack that includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four Pepsi fountain drinks starting a $48.
