Ronald Tillery

The Commercial Appeal

If the Grizzlies want to take a knee during the national anthem, their coach will be with them every step of the way.

On Monday during the Grizzlies' media day, coach David Fizdale was asked about the numerous NFL players and teams who took a knee during the national anthem on Sunday. The question also was posed about what would happen if his team wanted to take a knee.

“Absolutely,” Fizdale said. “There’s no gray area today. I’ll be on my knee. Standing with your team is the most important thing especially when they’re standing for what’s right. … When these guys are on the right side of history, who am I to not stand with them and back them in a time when they can face a lot of criticism and a lot of backlash for it. So I’m in the trenches with these guys. Whatever they decide to do, I’ll be right there with them.”

The outspoken Fizdale didn't stop there. He also commented on President Donald Trump.

“He’s trying to divide us from our military now. He’s trying to divide us from our fan base. He’s trying to divide us from each other in the locker room,” Fizdale said. “My response to that is the human spirit will always win out. People are starting to see him for what he is. When you say that we’re disrespecting the military when we protest, I think that’s a slap in the face to all citizens who are all Americans.

“We all live under that flag. The military is not fighting for that flag. They’re fighting for what it stands for. It stands for our right to choose and our right to protest. People should be proud of these athletes for doing this the right way and taking a stand.”

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Fizdale rebuked Trump for making peaceful protests throughout the NFL about the military.

“You want to talk about disrespecting our military. Go through his tweets,” Fizdale said. “John McCain, transgender in the military, look at what he’s doing with North Korea and putting our troops in danger by instigating a war. You know how many troops we’ve got in South Korea and Japan, and all of these places that are in direct line?

“The Gold Star family that lost their son. I can keep going. When we talk about disrespecting our military, people need to take a step back and look at who’s really disrespecting our military and who’s honoring our military by exercising their rights.”

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Several Grizzlies players spoke out, too.

Backup guard Mario Chalmers called Trump's rhetoric "unnecessary."

"The main thing we need to do is come together as people and united as one," Chalmers said. "The way he's talking it's making it pretty much impossible for people to see eye to eye and get on one page."

Point guard Mike Conley admitted that he's been reluctant to speak publicly about social issues and politics in the past. But he won't remain silent anymore.

“We’re all about unity and equality in this country,” Conley said. “It’s not in my nature to be that guy (who speaks out). But I’ve learned that it’s not about me. It’s about the people. Whether I’m uncomfortable or not, I’ll still stand up for what’s right.

"So many people don't understand and are ignorant about what's going on. Educating everybody and getting everybody on the same page about what really is happening and what everything means, and how things affect people is a start. The president doesn't understand how he's affecting people. Some people who support the president, which they have a right to do so, don't understand either."

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Forward Chandler Parsons wouldn't commit to participating in some form of protest if his teammates decided to when the games begin.

"It depends, man," Parsons said. "I'm proud to be an American. I'm proud to be in this country. It's the best country in the world. I'd hate to show some sort of disrespect to the people that protect and fight for us and give us this freedom that we have. It's a tough situation. Obviously, we've got to come together. It's something I've got to figure out once we get there."

The Grizzlies haven't met as a team to discuss the issue because Monday was officially their first day back to work.

“Some of the comments are made so often now that you can’t meet with your team every single time (Trump) decides to make outlandish statements like that,” Fizdale said. “The great part about it was that you saw a community come together against what he said. That brought me great pride whether they stood for the national anthem and locked arms, whether they had a hand on a brother or whether they were kneeling. It showed real togetherness, and that’s what we’ve got to continue to do when so many things are trying to divide us.”

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Fizdale's comments should be of no surprise as the second-year Grizzlies coach has been outspoken about the political climate in America.

In August, Fizdale said he "won't let up" and would talk about the need to take down Confederate statues in Memphis “continuously.”