National Basketball Association great Kareem Abdul-Jabbar thinks Colin Kaepernick’s protest is “patriotic”

Some understood. Others harshly criticized Kaepernick.

While stock vehicle driver Tony Stewart called the San Francisco 49ers quarterback an “idiot”, and Super Bowl-winning former New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison claimed Kaepernick doesn’t speak for black people (before learning that Kaepernick is, in fact, black), the Los Angeles Lakers legend described Kaepernick’s actions as “highly patriotic” in an op-ed for the Washington Post.

“He’s just speaking out (but) he used a platform that many Americans don’t agree with”. And my conversation with him was simply that one of the guys I probably admired most at that time was Muhammad Ali, because not only did he make a decision not to step forward but it was the part of it, the things that he gave up, and our message basically to [Abdul-Rauf] was ‘Hey, that’s the guy I admire. “If it’s not done violently, at least he should be heard”.

All this after Kaepernick refused to stand for the national anthem at a preseason game.

Kaepernick ignited a firestorm of controversy over his refusal to stand up for the playing of “The Star Spangled Banner” before a pre-season game against Green Bay on Friday. A certain presidential nominee suggested that he finds a new country.

The NBA’s all-time leading scorer, former USA cultural ambassador, best-selling author, activist, and all-around badass wrote an op-ed for the Washington Post on Tuesday defending Kaepernick.

“I think what Colin was doing was trying to attract attention to an issue that is very important to him”, Abdul-Jabbar said. So many people want to publicly bash Kaepernick, no matter how unqualified they may be.

Miami Dolphins running back Arian Foster, who has been supportive of Kaepernick’s stance, tweeted that Stewart should have directly addressed Kaepernick with any concerns. “He’s within his rights and he’s telling the truth as he sees it”, Brown said on the NFL Network.

The 49ers and National Football League have said that while they encourage standing for the anthem, there are no rules against it. Kaepernick is not expected to be disciplined.

Kaepernick, however, has said he will not be deterred from sitting out the anthem once again while insisting he retained “great respect” for service personnel.

“And they fight for freedom, they fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice, for everyone”.

Kaepernick said his decision was based on injustices in America that he feels go against what the flag and country represent.