NBA Stars Speak Out Against Homophobic Speech

On the heels of Kobe Bryant and his teammates recording a PSA after Kobe’s very public anti-gay slur, the NBA as a whole is launching a campaign taking on the same kind of hateful language.

The spot, created by Arnold NYC, GLSEN, Ad Council, NBA and featuring Phoenix Suns players Grant Hill and Jared Dudley (whose boss, Suns president/CEO Rick Welts, came out over the weekend), also features a track from the Beastie Boys called “Make Some Noise” from the group’s recently released, critically acclaimed album Hot Sauce Committee Part Two. It’s always nice to see a professional sports association like the NBA taking a real stand against trash-talk, but maybe an “It Gets Better” video might have had a bit more impact? In any case, as the Bulls and Heat play in the most anticipated series of the 2010-2011 season so far, a huge amount of passive fans are probably now just tuning into the playoffs, giving this spot more reach than it would have gotten it previous years.

WATCH: NBA Stars Grant Hill and Jared Dudley Against Homophobia

By Rod 2.0

GLSEN has released behind-the-scenes footage of their pro-equality and anti-homophobia PSA shoot with Phoenix Suns Grant Hill and Jared Dudley. Ironically, it was lensed on the same day and only hours before NBA superstar and basketball diva Kobe Bryant was caught on camera using an anti-gay slur during a basketball game.

While the video message shot by Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers only mentions sexual orientation in passing, the topic takes center stage in the Suns' video. Says the six foot eight Hill in the video: "Using gay to mean dumb or stupid? Not cool. Not in my house, not anywhere. It’s not creative, it’s offensive to gay people and you’re better than that."

Dudley adds in an interview: "It's critical to set values. ... It starts with the NBA, because a lot of people look up to the stars [as] role models, the kids want to be you. And if they see how you’re acting toward this, it will definitely sway a lot of people."

The video was shot for GLSEN, the Ad Council and the NBA as part of the "Think B4 You Speak" campaign. It's a collaborative effort to address anti-LGBT language among teens. The video will air during the NBA playoffs. Watch it AFTER THE JUMP ...

Lebron Ask, “What Should I do?”

Lebron James New Nike Commercial Creates Buzz – “What Should I Do?” This is the question asked by former Cleveland Cavaliers and now Miami Heat player Lebron James in his recent Nike commercial.

Lebron James has been creating so much buzz among the players of the NBA. For one, his mother Gloria James has been rumored before to have an affair with fellow basketball player Delonte West. After that controversy, his famous move to leave his home team Cleveland Cavaliers despite the fact that he would be taking less money to play in Miami was next.

Lebron left Cleveland to join Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh in Miami Heat giving the team one of the most dynamic power trios in the basketball league history. Back then, James uttered the following words: “The attraction in Miami is being alongside Dwyane Wade and being alongside Chris Bosh. It is a new challenge for myself. The major factor was this is the best opportunity for me to win and win now and in the future. The number one thing with me is to help my teammates get better and to win.”

Perhaps the new Nike Commercial of Lebron James asking for “What Should I Do” is a reflection of the many things and controversies happening to him now. He asks his audience: “What Should I Do?”