David West on national-anthem demonstration: ‘It’s never going to be about me’

When David West was 9 years old, an African-American teenager in his Teaneck, N.J., neighborhood was shot in the back by a police officer. The killing of Phillip Pannell was West's introduction to what he views as police-involved injustices against blacks. Twenty-six years later, as a veteran power forward for the Warriors, West sees similar incidents unfolding throughout the country: On Sunday, news surfaced that West has stood last in line and two feet behind his teammates during the national anthem for years in silent demonstration against inequalities against black people. On Monday, surrounded by reporters after practice, West spent 10-plus minutes detailing the reason behind his personal stance. Not just in your own personal life, but in the lives of others and the world community that you're a part of. Every day, the two-time NBA All-Star plays a game in which he and David Benjamin try to scare each other. The hope is that it will help the younger David understand that all humans feel the same emotions. There are a lot of people who have always stayed the course and are fighting the good fight. on seeing NBA stars take a stand Ultimately, this is the message I try to send...