On This Date in Sports March 12, 1996: The First Anthem Protest
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
The NBA suspends Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver Nuggets indefinitely for his refusal to stand during the National Anthem. Abdul-Rauf, who was born Chris Jackson and converted to Islam, claimed the flag was a symbol of oppression and tyranny to the rest of the world. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf would end up missing just two games before reaching a compromise with the league that allowed him to bow his head and pray during the anthem.
Born Chris Jackson on March 9, 1969, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was a star point guard at LSU. In the 1990 NBA Draft, he was taken by the Denver Nuggets with the third overall pick behind Derrick Coleman of the New Jersey Nets and Gary Payton of the Seattle Supersonics. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s path to the NBA was not easy, as he was raised in Mississippi by a single mother while suffering from epilepsy and Tourette’s syndrome.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf showed early promise as he was on the NBA’s All-Rookie second team. In 1993, Chris Jackson was named the NBA’s Most Improved Players before announcing that he had converted to Islam and changed his name. Over the next two seasons, Abdul-Rauf continued to show growth as an NBA player, growing into a solid playmaker, who was the best shooter at the free-throw line in the NBA, averaging over 90% for his career.
During the 1995/96 season, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf quietly began protesting the National Anthem often staying on the bench or stretching while it was played. On February 16th, when the Denver Nuggets played on the road against the Charlotte Hornets, Abdul-Rauf’s protest began to catch heat as Hornets owner George Shinn lodged a complaint at his refusal to stand for the anthem. After being interviewed, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf explained that he refused to stand due to the USA’s history tyranny while calling the flag a symbol of oppression. Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf was met with overwhelming criticism as he was booed throughout the league. With the controversy steamrolling, commissioner David Stern decided to take action and suspend the Nuggets guard.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s suspension lasted just two games as he reached a compromise. Abdul-Rauf refused to support the National Anthem but agreed to stand while bowing his head and citing a Muslim prayer. The controversy quickly died down after the compromise, but Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf’s career was irreparably harmed. Following the season, he was traded to the Sacramento Kings for Sarunas Marciulionis and a second-round draft pick. After two seasons in Sacramento, Abdul-Rauf would sign to play in Turkey. He would spend the rest of his career playing in several different countries around the world, briefly returning to the NBA with the Vancouver Grizzlies in 2000.