Rockets’ Chris Clemons on marching: ‘It was the best thing I’ve ever done.’

While Chris Clemons’ NBA career is just getting started with the Houston Rockets, he’s already making an impact off the court in many ways.

After not being drafted in the 2019 NBA Draft, it didn’t take long for the Houston Rockets to take notice of Chris Clemons in the NBA Summer League. Despite only getting spot minutes, the 5-9 guard put up six double-digit scoring efforts in Houston, highlighted by a 19-point performance on the road against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Clemons is only getting started in the NBA but has already been making the most of his opportunities on the court. Meanwhile, Chris recently opened up about how he’s using his new platform to help encourage others to participate in the ongoing movement for social justice and racial equality.

“It’s important that NBA players and everybody is out there participating in this movement, because for guys like me who have bigger voices, it’s important that I’m able to be seen doing something positive so other people can join in. When you see somebody like me out there, it kind of pushes you to try to bring people along and to try to make a change for something better.”

Clemons joined marches for justice in his home state of North Carolina, which he explained had a profound impact on him, while also providing a lasting memory.

“I went with a few of my high school coaches and high school players that I used to play with, and some that play there now and we marched. I didn’t know what to expect, I just came up there with an open mind and heart. I knew what I was there for, I wanted to change something. And we went out there and we marched.

It was amazing, that was probably the best thing I’ve ever done in my life. We saw people coming out of their houses to join us and people that were on the sides, with their signs. Even if they didn’t want to march, they were supporting.

We marched to the jailhouse and we were on the ground chanting about the false imprisonment and drug charges that black people are facing, and we were also protesting police brutality. The energy and collective emotion that we all had that day was just amazing.”

Kudos to Clemons for not only realizing the platform that he has, even as a younger, up-and-coming player, but also for putting it to good use and trying to be the face of change in the community!