League-level alignment baseline: The NBA was the most aggressively progressive of the four major American leagues during 2020, painting “Black Lives Matter” on its courts inside the Orlando bubble, permitting league-approved social-justice messages on jerseys, and publicly supporting player activism; Commissioner Adam Silver has been an outspoken voice for player free expression on social-justice topics; team owners vary, but the league office and most franchise public-facing messaging tilt strongly progressive.
League summary
This league-level page sets the default baseline rating used for individual NBA team pages. Each team’s rating may be adjusted up (toward Aligned) or down (further into Not Aligned) based on owner-specific signals — most notably political donations, public statements, and franchise activism. The NBA’s player demographics (predominantly Black athletes) and league office leadership have produced the highest-profile player-empowerment culture in U.S. pro sports.
Claims & Sources
Claim 1: The NBA and NBPA approved social-justice messages on jerseys in 2020.
Source: NBA.com (official) — NBA, NBPA reportedly approve social justice messages on jerseys.
Claim 2: Commissioner Adam Silver indicated social-justice messages would not be returning to courts in 2020-21 — a partial pullback after the bubble.
Source: CBS Sports — Adam Silver says social-justice messages won’t be on courts during 2020-21 season.
All 30 NBA Teams
Every NBA team rated by Cast Your Dollar, sorted from most conservative-aligned to least. Click any team for the full breakdown with sources.
Mavericks — Rating 9 / Aligned
Magic — Rating 8 / Aligned
Nuggets — Rating 7 / Aligned
Timberwolves — Rating 7 / Aligned
Pelicans — Rating 7 / Aligned
Knicks — Rating 7 / Aligned
Suns — Rating 7 / Aligned
Pacers — Rating 6 / Mixed
Heat — Rating 6 / Mixed
Spurs — Rating 6 / Mixed
Bulls — Rating 5 / Mixed
Bucks — Rating 5 / Mixed
Hawks — Rating 4 / Mixed
Clippers — Rating 4 / Mixed
Trail Blazers — Rating 4 / Mixed
Celtics — Rating 3 / Not Aligned
Lakers — Rating 3 / Not Aligned
Nets — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Hornets — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Cavaliers — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Pistons — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Warriors — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Rockets — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Grizzlies — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Thunder — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
76ers — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Kings — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Raptors — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Jazz — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Wizards — Rating 2 / Not Aligned
Rating scale: 1-3 Not Aligned (liberal) · 4-6 Mixed · 7-9 Aligned (conservative).