New Orleans Pelicans Cousins offers to cover funeral expenses for victim.

As the New Orleans Pelicans continue fighting for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, DeMarcus Cousins is lending a helping hand to a family that’s suffering.

The New Orleans Pelicans are a part of the NBA and NBA Cares program. They play an active role in strengthening the community through various services and charities. All teams in the league have political ideologies that they hold near and dear to their hearts.

The most famous of the NBA players who use their voice to envoke change is LeBron James. James recently came under fire from a news journalist who said that he should “shut-up and dribble.”

It’s no secret that our nation is divided between left and right. Our political differences have become escalated in the recent years. It’s involved in every aspect of our daily lives. We live to troll each other on social media and divide ourselves because of our differences.

NBA players feel they have a voice for those who are voiceless in their communities. Regardless of what side you stand on, NBA players are going to voice their opinions on social matters. As a result, they’ll be faced with backlash because of it.

Recently, 22-year old African-American Stephon Clark of Sacramento California was shot and killed in his grandmother’s backyard. He was holding a cell-phone that the police officer mistook for a gun before he and his partner fired 20 shots at Clark.

The officers have since been placed on paid administrative leave and the family of Clark is left picking up the pieces. It’s a story that is happening far too often in our society, regardless of how you look at it.

DeMarcus Cousins reaches out to the family.

DeMarcus Cousins of the New Orleans Pelicans reached out the family of Clark to offer to pay for the funeral services. Cousins who spent a majority of his career in Sacramento is known in the community for his acts of kindness despite his national perception. The act by Cousins is noble, honorable, and should be on the front page of every news media outlet across the country. However, that simply will not happen.

There is no way that I being a white male can identify with what African-Americans go through when they encounter the police. However, as a native of Little Rock Arkansas, I’ve been in some situations and seen enough to know that police brutality is real and it’s running wild in our communities.

It’s sad, there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight. The arguing on Facebook and Twitter doesn’t appear to be slowing down. The negative outlook on the Black Lives Matter movement continues to be a problem.

Next: Could NOLA face Portland in the playoffs?

Not all hope is lost. Cousins reaching out to this family to pay for the funeral is hope. LeBron James confronting the notion of “shut-up and dribble” is hope. One thing we can all count on is the players of the NBA will continue to provide hope when all is hopeless.

Fight The Power!