NBA World Reacts To Trayvon Martin Verdict

March 23, 2012; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; A tribute to Trayvon Martin is written on the shoes of Miami Heat small forward LeBron James (6) before the game against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

On Saturday night, George Zimmerman was found not guilty of second-degree murder in the February 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin in Sanford, Florida that had captured the national attention.

Many prominent NBA players had been paying attention to the trial as it unfolded. Many of them expressed their opinions right after the six-person jury determined Zimmerman’s fate. While opinions varied across the board, almost everyone expressed their sentiment for Martin and his family.

Watched a lot of the case…though manslaughter was a definite! Thinking about everyone involved especially the Martin family

— Stephen Curry (@StephenCurry30) July 14, 2013

How do I explain this to my young boys????

— THREE (@DwyaneWade) July 14, 2013

Houston Rockets own Greg Smith had a hard time trying to express how he felt.

I'm Lost for words

— Gregory Smith (@Ju_Smith4) July 14, 2013

My heart and soul goes out to the Trayvons parents. I feel their pain. Unlike a lot of you ruthless ppl I have a heart and it feels for them

— Jared Sullinger (@Jared_Sully0) July 14, 2013

WoW!!! Prayers out to the Martin family…

— Chris Paul (@CP3) July 14, 2013

TNT NBA Analyst Kenny Smith tried to make sense of the whole matter as well.

So lets say Zimmerman was accurate. U approach some1 who had not committed a crime.. Start altercation,They beatn ur butt. U can kill them?

— Kenny Smith (@TheJetOnTNT) July 14, 2013

Other athletes used twitter to express their thoughts. Desean Jackson of the Philadelphia Eagles:

Bryan Petersen of the Miami Marlins was able to effectively express his voice in an objective and general standpoint.

If you trusted the justice system to find a man guilty, you must trust it when it finds a man not guilty, or it’s just partiality you seek

— Bryan Petersen (@Peteypipes) July 14, 2013