Shaq Criticizes Kaepernick As Steph Curry Shows Support For National Anthem Protest 

Two of basketballs biggest athletes have spoken out about Colin Kaepernick’s ongoing protest of the national anthem.

On Wednesday, Shaquille O’Neal appeared on Fox & Friends, where he spoke out against Kaepernick’s protest. “I don’t know Colin, but again, to each his own. I don’t really have a say on it, but I would never do that,” he said, “My father was a military man, and you know, he protected this country. Uncles are in law enforcement, you know, they go out and work hard every day.”

Shaq has often talked about his late stepfather, who raised him to respect law enforcement and the military.

He added that he believed there were other ways for Kaepernick to get his point across and wondered why Kaepernick decided to act now.

“My question is, how come you didn’t do it last year? Or how come you didn’t do it when you first entered the NFL?”

While Shaq may not approve, Steph Curry is throwing his support behind Kaepernick. The Golden State Warriors star told CNBC’s Sara Eisen, “I love that there’s freedom of speech and he can stand up for what he believes in.”

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“There’s going to be people that disagree with him and there’s going to be people that agree with him, which is what I think our country stands for, which hopefully will drive the conversation to bettering the equal rights and treatment of African-Americans and people of color. So I applaud him for taking a stand and hopefully the conversation is about what his message was and not, ‘Is he going to stand or is he going to sit for the national anthem?’ … The conversation is started and should continue.”
No doubt we’ll hear from more athletes as Kaepernick’s protest continues.