Miami Heat center Chris Bosh believes that the NBA should follow the NFL's lead in its attempts to penalize players for using the N-word and that basketball should take it a step further by banning all racial slurs.
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Bosh, who is black, told ESPN that he hears players use the N-word and other racial slurs all the time on the court but in a "friendly way" as opposed to threatening.
Bosh talked about the subject of racial slurs Wednesday as his team prepared to face the New York Knicks in Miami on Thursday and said he believed all slurs should be banned.
"It's a very tough situation," Bosh said of the prospect of penalizing the use of the N-word in the NFL and NBA, according to ESPN. "If that's the case, they should ban all slurs. And I know it's a big deal, because I think that word is used too much, especially in the mainstream nowadays."
Bosh's comments come on the heels of a controversial time for the NBA and NFL when it comes to race and sexual orientation. The NFL is looking to ban racial slurs and make the use of the N-word and homophobic language a 15-yard penalty in games and has dealt with the controversy behind Michael Sam coming out as a gay player and looking to be drafted into the NFL this season.
The NBA also has dealt with players coming out as Jason Collins recently became the first openly gay player to partake in an NBA game with the Brooklyn Nets. While it probably shouldn't be so controversial for players to come out in the year 2014, the issues have brought about a myriad of emotions and reactions.
NBA spokesman Tim Frank said the league isn't planning on making a rule that mirrors the NFL's.
"At this time, the league is not contemplating a rule in that area," Frank told ESPN.
Bosh believes that the league should put a stop to the slurs.
"Well, what if I say this? There are a bunch of other [offensive] things I could say and not get a penalty," Bosh said, according to ESPN. "I think if we're going to bring one thing in, I think we've got to put them all in the hat. And I think that'll work out [better]."
He added: "That's why it's so confused, because it's in mainstream America now, and a lot of people say, 'Aw, I'm not a racist because I used it in a friendly way. It's like I said -- if you're going to [penalize] one word, then put them all in there. Use every slur, every negative curse word, if you will, and that will simplify it a little bit."
It remains to be seen if the NBA will change its stance on racial and homophobic slurs, but Bosh at least believes that all slurs should be banned from the game.
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