NBA, NFL: 3 Players Show Support for Eric Garner

The majority of professional athletes will choose to stay quiet when it comes to political issues. For example, NBA star Michael Jordan stuck to the topic of basketball throughout his career. Although staying away from political issues might be a safer route to go, three players have decided to show their support for Eric Garner after the Grand Jury did not indict the police officer involved with arresting Garner.

1. Derrick Rose

The Chicago Bulls' star player, Derrick Rose made his return to the court this season after suffering from injuries. Rose, who usually stays quiet on political issues, wore a t-shirt reading "I Can't Breathe," during the warm-up portion of Saturday night's game against the Golden State Warriors. The phrase referenced Garner, who said those words when a police officer put Garner in a chokehold while arresting him for illegally selling loose cigarettes. Garner later died in the hospital.

All other players stuck to their Chicago Bull shirts. However, some of Rose's teammates expressed their thoughts on Rose's decision.

"I knew that Derrick was going to put that T-shirt on," Joakim Noah said reported by ESPN. "I think he has every right to express his beliefs. He told me that he was going to wear it. I respect Derrick a lot. I think he's definitely making a statement by wearing it. That's my guy."

Taj Gibson added, "It was a big statement, especially for me being from New York. It was big. I felt that that whole situation was bad. How it turned out was even worse. It's tough, tough."

Golden State Warriors' Andre Iguodala chimed in as well, stating, "I think when guys believe in something, they have the right to express themselves, especially in the manner of the way he did. People look at us and say we make a lot of money, we play basketball, we don't have any issues. That could be us. That could be any of our family members, so it hit real close to home."

Rose, who grew up in one of the most violent neighborhoods in Chicago, might not have made any statements in regards to his decision to wear the t-shirt, but he has definitely gotten more NBA players to speak up.

2. LeBron James

LeBron James has proven time after time that he will voice his political opinions regardless of where he is. LeBron decided to address the issues surrounding Garner's case prior to the start of a game against the New York Knicks last week. He stated: "This is our country, the land of the free, and we keep having these incidents happen, innocent victims or whatever the case may be... I'm not pointing the blame at anybody that's making it happen. In society, we've come a long way, but it just goes to show how much further we still have to go."

Since these comments, LeBron has expressed his support for Rose. He stated to the New York Daily News, in reference to Rose's t-shirt: "It was spectacular. I loved it. I'm looking for one."

LeBron has previously addressed the Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown cases.

3. Reggie Bush

Detroit Lions running back, Reggie Bush, donned a "I Can't Breathe" shirt while warming up for the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past Sunday.

"I've always been the quiet kid, I've always been the one to be reserved and to kind of sit back and not really get into politics or certain things like that," Bush said reported by CBS Detroit. "I guess the situation just really kind of touched me and just kind of resonated with me... it's okay for me to say how I feel. As long as it's positive and as long as it's not - I know it's genuine in my heart and I'm not doing it to intentionally hurt anybody or bring anybody else down, then that's okay. It's okay to have a voice.

Bush added that the violent protests and riots are unnecessary and do not help the cause at all.