LOS ANGELES, Calif. – When people hear the name Al Harrington, they probably think of his 16-year NBA career. But these days, he’s focused on his cannabis company Viola, through which he encourages Black empowerment through business. 

“Trying to figure out how to use my platform to increase opportunities for our people to have ownership,” Harrington said.

It’s why the Black Lives Matter movement is so important to him and why he agrees with NBA players like Kyrie Irving, one of the league leaders who don’t want to see the season return next month. They feel it shouldn’t happen because it could be a distraction to the movement. 

“It’s about deciding if you want to make a sacrifice,” explained Harrington. “Yes, it’s financial, but you gotta think about the people who made sacrifices before you. They did it with their lives.”

Former NBA star and friend of George Floyd, Stephen Jackson, voiced his opinion on Instagram.

“Playing basketball is going to do one thing, take all the attention on the task at hand right now, what we’re fighting for,” Jackson added. 

Clippers sixth man Lou Williams was reportedly “50 – 50” on a return. In a tweet he said “If we had a game today and u leave a protest to watch it. That’s a distraction.” 

What would Harrington do if he was still playing?

“I would go back with a list of demands. It’s a write-off for these teams to make big donations,” said Harrington. “Give us $500 million that we the players can come to an agreement and decide what black businesses we want to fund.”

He believes any return of the NBA should improve of the lives of the Black community in some way.

“We generate a lot of revenue, a whole lot and it’s just unfortunate that we don’t own any of these verticals,” said Harrington.

It’s why he started his Viola cannabis business, as a means to grow generational wealth in the Black community.