After George Floyd's Killing, An NBA Executive's Mission
The Lead
Wondery
3.9 • 2.2K Ratings
🗓️ 31 March 2021
⏱️ 20 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Minnesota Timberwolves executive John Thomas grew up just a few blocks away from the convenience store where George Floyd was killed. Since that tragic incident, which inspired a national reckoning and global movement, Thomas has been on a mission to build bridges and inspire change in his old neighborhood in South Minneapolis. The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski recently took a stroll through the area with Thomas to learn what his life growing up there was like, and how he is striving to give back to the community that lifted him up and helped him achieve his basketball dreams.
Read Jon Krawczynski's story about John Thomas:
https://theathletic.com/2390979/2021/03/26/ahead-of-the-george-floyd-trial-a-quest-for-restoration-by-former-nba-player-john-thomas/
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hey, prime members, you can listen to the lead ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. |
| 0:07.0 | Hi there, Wondry listeners. Hannah and Sruti here from TrueCram Podcast Redhanded. |
| 0:11.0 | Your favourite podcast Redhanded. We just wanted to say how excited we are to be included in Amazon Music |
| 0:16.0 | and Wondry's best podcasts of the year as chosen by their listeners, which is you. |
| 0:21.0 | So thank you so much to everyone who listened to us voted for us, all the things you do for us. |
| 0:26.0 | Any of you out there who haven't checked out Redhanded, what are you doing? What are you waiting for? |
| 0:31.0 | It's a weekly show where we deep dive into the most talked about cases like the Delphi murders |
| 0:35.0 | and also those you might never have heard of like the Nathari child sacrifices in Delhi. |
| 0:40.0 | Go listen to Redhanded right now on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. |
| 0:57.0 | This week the country has been consumed by the trial of Derek Chauvin, the Minneapolis police officer who killed George Floyd. |
| 1:05.0 | As we come on the year tonight, the city of Minneapolis is on high alert with businesses boarded up |
| 1:10.0 | and the National Guard standing by. |
| 1:12.0 | Three witnesses for the prosecution tested by today, including one who shot seven videos of the incident |
| 1:18.0 | and another who says he heard Floyd plead for his life. |
| 1:21.0 | And for one NBA executive, the story has felt especially close to home. |
| 1:26.0 | Today the Athletics John Krasinski tells us about the Minnesota Timberwolves VP |
| 1:31.0 | who grew up just a few blocks from where George Floyd was killed. |
| 1:35.0 | The role that basketball played in his life there and how he's trying to get back to the community that lifted him up. |
| 1:41.0 | He's giving out his phone number, he's giving out his card to anyone who wants it to try and foster conversations, to try and help people, |
| 1:49.0 | get a sense that there are others looking out for them and that there are others who understand what they are going through. |
| 1:56.0 | From Wondry in the Athletic, I'm Anders Kelto, it's Wednesday, March 31st and this is The Lead. |
| 2:08.0 | So John, you recently went on a walking tour, I guess you could call it, with a guy named John Thomas. |
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