On March 12, 1996 Chris Jackson Makes History
1996: Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, the Denver Nuggets’ leading scorer, hasn’t stood for the national anthem all season, citing religious beliefs. With only a month left in the season, the NBA decides to punish him today, suspending him without pay until he complies with the rule.
Deputy commissioner Russ Granik says Abdul-Rauf violated a league rule that requires players, coaches and trainers to “stand and line up in a dignified posture” during the U.S. and/or Canadian anthems.
Abdul-Rauf played at LSU as Chris Jackson and adopted the Islamic faith in 1991. He says he does not believe in standing for any nationalistic ideology. The Koran, he says, says that nothing should come between him and Allah.
“My beliefs are more important than anything,” he says. Two days later, a compromise will be reached. Abdul-Rauf will stand and pray while the anthem is being played.
“I’ll offer a prayer, my own prayer, for those who are suffering,” he says. “Muslim, Caucasian. African-American. Asian. That is what I cry out for.”
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