83% of NBA teams are hosting a Pride Night, despite ‘woke’ attacks. 1 NBA team is not. The other 4? Hmmm…

While some anti-gay people are criticizing Pride Nights in pro sports, almost every NBA team will host the LGBTQ community this season. The post 83% of NBA teams are hosting a Pride Night, despite ‘woke’ attacks. 1 NBA team is not. The other 4? Hmmm… appeared first on Outsports.

Mark

Jan 17, 2025 - 19:00

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The NBA, along with the WNBA, has been a leader in building LGBTQ inclusion in American pro sports.

The league supported the coming-out of gay player Jason Collins in 2013, and the Brooklyn Nets signed Collins after he came out, in the midst of the club’s playoff push.

The league created a line of LGBTQ Pride shirts for each team in 2016. Also that year, the NBA and WNBA participated jointly in the New York City Pride March.

This season, most NBA teams are hosting an LGBTQ Pride Night, despite attacks over the last couple of years against recognition of the LGBTQ community in sports, as well as major brands.

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It’s powerful to see the NBA and its teams continue to focus on building a culture in major men’s sports that, despite so many years of being branded as homophobic, NBA champions and others embrace the community.

Of course, it’s disappointing that a handful of teams either aren’t hosting an LGBTQ Pride Night this season, or are seemingly doing so in secret (ahem… LA Clippers).

Still, the LGBTQ-inclusion efforts by league leaders like the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics and so many others are appreciated.

So what NBA teams confirmed to Outsports they are, or are not, hosting an LGBTQ Pride Night for the 2024-25 season?

Related

How the NBA and WNBA created sports’ premier culture of inclusion
The WNBA is the most represented league on the Outsports Power 100. The NBA has the most men’s sports execs.

NBA teams 100% not hosting an LGBTQ Pride Night

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder told Outsports they are foregoing the hosting of an LGBTQ Pride Night this season. A spokesperson for the team pointed us to ongoing partnerships with various organizations in the Oklahoma City area, including the OKC Pride Alliance and SISU Youth Services. They also shared this video from a couple years ago:

A few other NBA teams simply did not return Outsports’ request for insights on a Pride Night this season, and we could not find any information online.

Status of 2024-25 NBA team Pride Night unknown

Memphis Grizzlies

Outsports cannot find any record of a Grizzlies Pride Night for the 2024-25 season, but we do not have confirmation that the team is not hosting one.

Houston Rockets

If the Houston Rockets are hosting an LGBTQ Pride Night this season, Outsports cannot find information about it.

Los Angeles Clippers

Clippers spokesperson Chris Wallace, the team’s Chief Communications Officer, told Outsports that the team hosted an LGBTQ Pride Night on Oct. 30, 2024. However, we cannot find any mention, record of acknowledgement of said Pride Night by the Clippers on Instagram or on X. If they hosted a Pride Night, they seem to have done so virtually in secret. The Clippers in the past have not been shy about hosting a Pride Night after I organized the team’s first such event — then called “Equality NIght” — in 2011.

Utah Jazz

Outsports can find no information confirming or denying a Utah Jazz LGBTQ Pride Night for the 2024-25 season. The Jazz did host a Pride Night last season.

The Jazz, Rockets and Clippers have all previously hosted LGBTQ Pride Nights.

Despite the void and question marks, the vast majority of NBA teams are hosting an LGBTQ Pride Night this season.