On the second day of September, almost exactly two months before the 2020 presidential election, the Orlando Magic held a press conference in soupy Central Florida to make good on a promise. Several members of the franchise were present, including president of basketball operations Jeff Weltman, CEO Alex Martins, head coach Steve Clifford, and center Mo Bamba. They were joined by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, and Bill Cowles, the Orange County supervisor of elections. Together, in consultation with More Than a Vote—an organization backed by LeBron James and other athletes and artists dedicated to fighting Black voter suppression—the group proudly declared that the Amway Center, home to the Magic, would double as a polling place on November 3.

The announcement was the result of an agreement reached in late August between the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association after players paused the postseason to protest the shooting of Jacob Blake by Kenosha, Wisconsin, Officer Rusten Sheskey. The plan called for the establishment of a social justice coalition including players, coaches, and governors; dedicated advertising spots during each playoff game aimed at “promoting greater civic awareness in national and local elections and raising awareness around voter access and opportunity”; and the conversion of arenas into polling places. The Magic were the latest franchise to deliver on that final component, joining a host of other organizations, among them the Kings, Bucks, Hawks, Pistons, and Clippers.

[Read John Gonzalez and Zach Kram's piece exploring the disparity between the NBA's progressive stance and the political donations of team owners.]